MY ACCOUNT
West Ham’s £30million signing Nayef Aguerd could make his long-awaited debut against Silkeborg tonight.
The Morocco defender, 26, was David Moyes’ first arrival this summer but is yet to play a single minute for the Hammers after suffering an ankle injury which required surgery.
There were fears Aguerd could miss the World Cup, but Moyes has revealed the centre-back is ahead of schedule and will be in the squad for their Europa Conference League clash at the London Stadium tonight.
The West Ham boss said: “He’s not in contention for Manchester United on Sunday, but we’re hoping to have him in the squad.
“I want to give him time. He’s a good reader of the game — he’s quick and he’s good in the air.
“But because he’s not played any Premier League games, it’s difficult for us to give an overall judgement.
“I don’t think he’s ready for the Premier League games, but we’ll see for the European games.
“He’s keen, well liked in the group. We think he’s a really stylish footballer and we hope he can help us going forward.
“He’ll go to play for Morocco at the World Cup. I have had contact with one of the scouts who I think is quite keen to come out and see him before the World Cup.
“And I’m hoping when he returns from the World Cup, he will be much more ready and we will have to start to get him ready for the Premier League.”
In it to win it
Tonight’s clash against the second-placed Danish side could be the perfect opportunity for Aguerd to get a run out with West Ham’s progression to the knockout stages already sealed.
They need just a point from their final two games to secure top spot in Group B, which would see them go straight through to the last 16 without the need for a play-off.
Having reached the Europa League semi-final last term, the Hammers are determined to continue competing on the European stage.
Defender Ben Johnson said: “Every competition we’re in, we look to win it. We’re looking to compete with European clubs and they do a few things differently.
“It’s great to be in these competitions and it gives the club, on the whole, a boost.
“When you think about our campaign last season, it’s a bit bitter-sweet. But it’s given us experience of how to deal with a European campaign and how to relate that back to a Premier League campaign.”
Schedule overload
West Ham are in action three days after beating Bournemouth 2-0 in the Premier League on Monday, while they have another quick turnaround as they face Manchester United on Sunday.
With the clash at Old Trafford their third within seven days, Moyes has hit out at the Premier League over the decision to schedule the Cherries game on a Monday night.
Moyes added: “Everybody is feeling really difficult. I thought it might have been easy to maybe put Leeds and Fulham on Monday night, that’s just one game I could think of off the top of my head.
“If that had been on Monday I don’t think anybody would have said anything different from West Ham and Bournemouth.
“Let’s be fair, we weren’t just talking about it a week before it happened, we actually tried doing something about it probably two months ago when we knew the scheduling.
“This week has become really difficult.”
Did you know?
While West Ham need just a point to seal progression, Silkeborg know only a victory will see them pip the Hammers to top spot in Group B.
Regardless of what happens tonight, a win at home against Anderlecht on Matchday 6 will guarantee Silkeborg a place in the knock-out play-off round.
Moyes’ men have won all six European games they have played this season, having beaten Silkeborg’s Danish Superliga rivals Viborg 6-1 on aggregate in the play-off round to reach the group stage.
Those two games and the reverse fixture against tonight’s opponents are the only times West Ham have faced a Danish side in Europe.
Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals have made more European appearances for West Ham than any player in the club’s history (18).
