Frank McAvennie admits that West Ham United’s recent injuries are “worrying” and could cost David Moyes his domestic and European ambitions.
The Athletic reporter Roshane Thomas (9 January) shared Jarrod Bowen is expected to be out for at least a month following an injury sustained in the 1-1 draw against Bristol City (7 January) at the London Stadium.
Bowen, who scored his 14th goal in all competitions on Sunday, was helped off the pitch by two members of the physiotherapy team due to a left ankle injury.
The Englishman joins Michail Antonio, who will be out for six weeks, and Lucas Paquet, who will also be out for more than a month (The Guardian, 9 January).
Speaking to the West Ham Zone, McAvennie said: ‘At the moment a footballer has got injured: ‘Yes, it’s worrying, I’m very worried. Losing Bowen and Paquet in the same game is really not good for Moyes and I know he will be angry now.
“Losing two of their best players at the same time is bad and it could cost them their ambitions this season, so I really think it definitely forces Moyes’ hand at transfer deadline time because they need to make moves now.”
With three of his most important and influential strikers absent, Moyes will be stuck between a rock and a hard place at the London Stadium in the wake of these events.
Bowen is out for a month and Paqueta and Antonio for six weeks, meaning Moyes has a serious injury crisis at West Ham United, which can only mean one thing: David Sullivan must now free up money to back Moyes with new signings this month.
Who Moyes will rely on to replace these three players is now very uncertain, as Paqueta and Bowen were the only standout players for the Irons apart from Mohamed Kudus, who is with Ghana at AFCON.
Danny Ings, Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals and Maxwel Cornet have been on the periphery all campaign and when they have been given a chance they have all been praised, suggesting they are not the solution at the moment.
West Ham United have been excellent all campaign, finishing top of the table and progressing to the Europa League, but with this fresh news Moyes is in a dangerous position and could really derail their ambitions.
It will be interesting to see how Moyes reacts.