West Ham United might have lost Konstantinos Mavropanos, but Nuno Espirito Santo’s injury concerns pale in comparison to Daniel Farke’s at Leeds ahead of Friday’s Premier League clash at Elland Road.
Nuno confirmed, in his Wednesday afternoon press conference, that big centre-back Mavropanos would be unavailable against Leeds.
He was forced off towards the end of Monday’s 2-0 home defeat by Brentford.
As such, due to a shortage of other options, the West Ham United boss will be praying that Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman can belatedly step up to the plate.
The Hammers are not expecting Niclas Fullkrug back until November, meanwhile.
At Leeds, though, Daniel Farke would love to only be worrying about the fitness of two key players heading into matchday nine’s curtain raiser in West Yorkshire. He confirms that the hosts could be without Noah Okafor, Willy Gnonto, Pascal Struijk and captain Ethan Ampadu, too.
Daniel Farke opens up on Leeds injury issues ahead of West Ham United clash
First-choice centre-half Struijk has started every Premier League match since promotion. Ampadu is just about the number one pick on the team sheet, meanwhile. Not only their skipper, but the man who tends to make things tick from his deep-lying midfield role.
Opportunities have been a little less forthcoming for Gnonto, though. But with he and £18 million summer signing Okafor both doubts, Farke may have to select Brendan Aaronson and Jack Harrison on the wings for a second match in a row, although he does have Dan James available.
“From the tactical point of view, we will be well prepared,” Farke said in his own press conference. “In personal terms, we have to take some late decisions, that is definitely for sure.
“Obviously, we have a few problems in the offence in terms of availability. Noah Okafor and Willy Gnonto are making some good progress in their rehab but they were not able to complete the whole team training during this week so far.
“We will definitely take some late decisions. Obviously, Noah was not out as long as Willy. Perhaps for him it is a bit more realistic to be involved but we will see.
“Also, a few players are struggling with illnesses at the moment, like probably the whole country is doing at the moment. Also, Ethan Ampadu and Pascal Struijk missed team training today, so also question marks about their availability.
“There will be some late calls and then we will see who is available on Friday night and who we will pick.”
Nuno loses Konstantinos Mavropanos but West Ham in a good shape physically
With goals against Tottenham and Wolves, former AC Milan and Napoli attacker Okafor is Leeds’ top scorer this season.
Nuno Espirito Santo is feeling pretty positive about the fitness and availability of his West Ham squad, in contrast.
“Some of [the players] have physical problems,” Nuno said. “But the rest, like ‘JC’ [Todibo] for example, were out for a couple of weeks. Now, he is coming back, like Aaron [Wan-Bissaka].”
He also has Callum Wilson raring to go, although the experienced striker is yet to play a single minute since Graham Potter’s departure.
“[Wilson] is working well, all the players are working well. It is up to us to take the decisions in the right moments.”
