West Ham United manager David Moyes has offered an update on the fitness of Jarrod Bowen, Nayef Aguerd and Dinos Mavropanos ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash against Liverpool at London Stadium.
Two successive defeats in the league – against Fulham and Crystal Palace last time out, either side of a UEFA Europa League quarter-final exit to Bayer Leverkusen – have left the Hammers yearning a return to top form, as they aim for a strong end to the season.
The Hammers remain in touch of European qualification, currently sat in eighth in the standings with four games of 2023/24 remaining, but know anything other than three points against the Reds will serve as a significant blow to their chances.
Top scorer Bowen missed the Hammers’ defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend, having returned in the previous game against Bayer Leverkusen from a back problem.
Saturday's game comes too soon for defender Aguerd, who will remain absent for the Hammers, while Mavropanos will undergo a late fitness test.
“Jarrod Bowen is back training, so there is a good chance he will be available," Moyes said. "We will still have to monitor him up until kick off to see how he is, but hopefully Jarrod is back and fit."
Defender Mavropanos also faces a late fitness test ahead of kick-off, while Aguerd won't be available for the Hammers as he recovers from an injury setback.
Moyes said: “We’ve got a couple of issues with our centre-backs. Nayef [Aguerd] won’t be available as he’s not ready yet. Dinos [Mavropanos] has got a chance, so we will need to see how he is, but again it’s pretty tight and is a quick turnaround in regard to the game being played at lunchtime. Hopefully they will be fine."
With just four games remaining of the 2023/24 season remaining, and West Ham continuing to battle for success at home and on the continent, Moyes believes the European dream is still alive.
The manager, like everyone, was left disappointed with last weekend's defeat to Crystal Palace - but has challenged his side for a reaction and to show what it means to play for the West Ham badge.
"We’re eighth in the Premier League at the moment, with four games to go and we’re just about to go into May. It’s an incredible position to be in, and we’ve been in it nearly all the season.
"We’ve also being competing in Europe so have probably played 12 or 13 games more than any of the teams who weren’t in Europe. From our point of view, we’re in there, we’re still in with a shout with four games to go and we’ll try to make Europe and it would be a great achievement to make it four years in a row.
"Overall, Palace played well and we didn't and we were very poor, so what we want is a reaction from the players. We want to show what it means to play for West Ham, a bit of pride, and hopefully we can show that."
