West Ham United manager David Moyes anticipates that Arthur Masuaku is likely to return to first-team action after the forthcoming international break.
The DR Congo wing-back missed four months of last season with a long-standing knee problem for which he underwent surgery, but played the full 90 minutes of the U23s’ first two Premier League 2 Division 1 games of the season against Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Masuaku is continuing to step up his recovery in training as he bids to return to full fitness, working to present another selection option for Moyes, whose team have made a flying start to the new Premier League season.
But with a second home game in five days on Saturday afternoon – West Ham face Crystal Palace at London Stadium – Moyes confirmed that the full-back is more likely to be fully available after the subsequent round of international fixtures.
“At the moment, most of us are okay,” the manager told his pre-match press conference. “We've had a few knocks, but overall we're fine.
“We're still waiting on Arthur Masuaku coming back, but he's got a better chance probably after the international break.”
Moyes also confirmed that, ahead of the closing of the Premier League transfer window on Tuesday 31 August at 11pm BST, he is hoping to add to his first-team squad by recruiting the right players at the right time.
The manager did, however, warn that situations and circumstances are always malleable in football.
“We’re looking at trying to add to the squad with new players who we feel can make a difference,” he said.
“I believe that we will, but ultimately I can’t promise it because sometimes these things don’t just happen – it’s not all that easy getting players over the line, and this window that’s what I’ve found.
“We want players who come in and are competitive with the ones we’ve got, so if we lose a player through injury or suspension, we’ve got someone who can come in at a similar level, but those are the ones who are not quite as easy to get.
“Let’s hope we can [add players]. If we can, and the team keeps playing the way we have, I’ll be even happier, because the team’s been excellent and if we can give the team a little more competition with more players in the squad, I think it would help.”
