EPL: West Ham’s defensive injury worries deepen in Chelsea derby
West Ham’s defensive injury concerns deepened during Saturday’s London derby against Chelsea.
The Hammers went into the clash in Stratford missing key centre-back Angelo Ogbonna, who is likely to miss the remainder of the season after suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage against Liverpool last month.
They were also still without Aaron Cresswell, who missed the frustrating midweek draw with Brighton after painfully colliding with the goal post during last weekend’s defeat at Manchester City.
Ben Johnson has been deputising for Cresswell, though he too was hurt against Chelsea as he pulled up while trying to track Mason Mount’s run before the England midfielder netted a stunning volley shortly before half-time.
Arthur Masuaku replaced Johnson, while West Ham also looked likely to lose Kurt Zouma before the break after he was injured while producing a vital sliding challenge on Kai Havertz, who had to be replaced by Romelu Lukaku.
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While Zouma recovered and made it back out for the second half, he was later withdrawn just over 20 minutes from the end after appearing to suffer a hamstring injury.
Zouma tried to run off the issue on the sidelines as he pressed to return against his former club, but there never appeared any realistic chance of that happening and Pablo Fornals was sent on in his place.
David Moyes will no doubt be pressed for updates on Johnson and Zouma in in the coming days, with West Ham left with third and fourth-choice central defenders Craig Dawson and Issa Diop on the pitch for the closing stages against Chelsea.