West Ham United manager David Moyes offered an update on the fitness of Jarrod Bowen, Edson Álvarez and Pablo Fornals ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
The Hammers travel north for their first top-flight away fixture of 2024, looking to stretch their unbeaten run in the league to five games, and further consolidate their place in the top six.
Bowen, Álvarez and Fornals were all absent from Tuesday’s Emirates FA Cup third-round replay exit at Bristol City, and Moyes confirmed that a late call will be made on each of them before the trip to South Yorkshire.
“Jarrod’s doing better,” said Moyes, 60. “Whether he’ll be fit and available at the weekend, we’ll have to wait and see, but he’s certainly improving.
“It’s a similar story with Edson and Pablo. We’ll need to make late calls on all three of them and see if they’re okay to travel, and that’s what we’ll do.”
Among the other members of the Irons’ squad currently subjected to the sidelines is Brazilian star Lucas Paquetá, who was withdrawn after just 14 minutes of West Ham’s first FA Cup running against Bristol City on 7 January.
Moyes was unable to put a timeframe on his return, but did suggest that the Club’s current absentee list could continue to open the door for other players to come in and make an impact.
He added: “We’ve got injuries and people away at the Africa Cup of Nations [in Nayef Aguerd and Mohammed Kudus], which makes things difficult for us, but hopefully the players who are available can fill in and put in performances befitting a West Ham player.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game up in Sheffield on Sunday, but it’s always a good atmosphere up there and we’re all looking forward it.”
