West Ham boss David Moyes has been speaking in more depth about the injury to Alphonse Areola and young back-up Joseph Anang.
David Moyes has confirmed number one goalkeeper Alphonse Areola faces a spell on the sidelines after his injury in the defeat at Newcastle.
Usually an injury to the inner thigh/groin area would keep a goalkeeper out for at least two to three weeks.
That’s a huge worry given the Hammers are entering their busiest and most important period of the season – starting with the big Premier League clash with rivals Spurs.
Lukasz Fabianski will come into the side and he is an able – if ageing – deputy to Areola.
Moyes addresses West Ham goalkeeping concerns
But beyond that Moyes only has youngster Joseph Anang, who is completely untested at the top level.
Most Premier League clubs have three senior goalkeepers with a veteran as third choice. But West Ham’s squad is slightly different.
Since the departures of David Martin and Darren Randolph the manager has elected to elevate Anang to that third choice role.
The concerning issue now is that the young Ghana-born star may be thrown in at the deep end should anything happen to Fabianski – who himself has been somewhat injury prone.
But Moyes has offered glimmer of Areola hope and dismissed Anang worries.
The manager was quizzed over his goalkeeping options in his pre-Spurs press conference.
And Moyes appears to suggest Areola may be available sooner rather than later.
In the meantime he was non-committal about Anang being on the bench. But he says he is not concerned by the situation and the prospect the 23-year-old will be thrust into action.
“He’s (Areola) hurt his groin so he’s unlikely to start,” Moyes said.
‘Might be back quite quickly’
“We hope it’s not too serious but he’s not going to be available for the game on Tuesday.
“Possibly,” Moyes said with a wry smile when asked if Anang will be on the bench as back-up to Fabianski.
“Er, no (I’m not worried that Fabianski is the only fit senior ‘keeper) I think most of the year we’ve had the same situation you know, it’s very rarely that you always need three goalkeepers.
“Fortunately we don’t see it being something too serious so he (Areola) might be back quite quickly.”
That’s not to suggest Anang won’t step up if called upon by the Hammers.
But that’s very much an unknown.
And with a European place at stake in the Premier League run-in as well as a huge Europa League quarter-final on the horizon there’s no hiding the fact it’s a concern.
Moyes would not admit that publicly of course as it would not show much confidence in young Anang.
Privately, though, he will be sweating anytime an opposition player goes anywhere near Fabianski until Areola is back.