West Ham United manager David Moyes has offered an update on the fitness statuses of wingers Robert Snodgrass and Felipe Anderson, as they both continue their respective recoveries from injury.
Since the Premier League restart last month, Snodgrass has been unavailable for selection, having suffered a disc problem in his back.
Fellow winger Felipe Anderson, meanwhile, featured in the first two games back against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur, but subsequently sustained a hamstring injury in the warm-up against Chelsea.
Ahead of his side's game against Watford at London Stadium on Friday evening, Moyes suggested that while Felipe Anderson might yet recover in time for the season's conclusion, the final week-and-a-half is less likely to bear Snodgrass’ return.
“Snodgrass is less likely,” Moyes noted at his pre-match press conference.
"He’s done a little bit of training. Felipe Anderson has done a bit more so he’s getting a bit closer, and obviously he’s only been out for a couple of weeks so it’s not so bad.
“Snodgrass has been out all through lockdown and since the season’s resumption, so to get him back in the last week or two [of the season] is going to take some doing, I think.”
Undoubtedly last week’s star performer was forward Michail Antonio, the West Ham No30 scoring all four goals in Saturday’s 4-0 hammering of Norwich City at Carrow Road.
... his fitness is improved and his all-round wellbeing’s much better, so I think we’re seeing a much better Michail Antonio at the moment
David Moyes
The versatile Antonio has been enjoying his recent spell as a centre-forward, having netted six goals in his last four games in Claret and Blue.
With record signing and fellow striker Sebastien Haller also featuring from the substitutes’ bench in the last two games after himself recovering from injury, Moyes expressed his delight with his offensive options heading into the final few games of the campaign.
“I hope I get selection dilemmas!” the manager joked. “That’s what I’ve been wanting. Ever since lockdown I’ve been struggling with not having any dilemmas because we’ve been very short of selection choices in some areas.
“To get Michail Antonio firing… he’s scored goals for us and he’s led the line. It’s good to see him doing it for us.
“He’s developing and he’s getting better, and I’ve said a couple of times his fitness is improved and his all-round wellbeing’s much better, so I think we’re seeing a much better Michail Antonio at the moment.”
