Medical expert: This is the real reason for Kurt Zouma’s last-minute West Ham withdrawal
Kurt Zouma withdrew in the warm-up for West Ham at the weekend purely because of stomach illness and not because of stress.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
Zouma has been under the microscope since a video emerged of him abusing his now-confiscated cat last week.
The Frenchman played in the win over Watford last Tuesday (8 February) and was due to start against Leicester City last Sunday (13 February).
David Moyes claimed that Zouma was “desperate” to play but that he is suffering from a “stomach bug”, per The Times yesterday (14 February).
Dinnery argued that the party line is accurate and that speculation the 27-year-old withdrew because of stress is wide of the mark.
“If Moyes is to be believed, it is is a gastro problem,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“It might have been brought on by something that he ate. In that regard, he is maybe just a little bit unfortunate in the timing.
“You are never privy to what goes on behind closed doors. There is a lot of smoke and mirrors in the media.
“In terms of the situation, Moyes and the club have been very vocal. Ultimately, they are choosing to back the player.
“The reports saying he might have withdrawn for any reason other than illness aren’t right. He played in mid-week and handled that situation.
“You read these things about him being remorseful, but the manner the video came to about is so blasé.
“Education is the way forward here and it was a little disappointing there wasn’t further action taken.”
The Irons have lost millions in sponsorship from partners who have walked since the beginning of the Zouma ordeal.
The centre-back was fined the maximum amount possible, two weeks’ wages, by the club.
In other news, pundit “wowed” by Tomas Soucek after source’s West Ham talks update