West Ham United have numerous players away from the club on international duty with their respective nations right now.
The current international break has seen eight West Ham players leave to join up with their countries, and they face a combined 16 games in the next six days.
The sheer volume of players the Hammers currently have away on international duty is a sign of where we are as a club right now.
And that’s taking into consideration the regular internationals who have missed out on their squads this time around for a variety of different reasons, including the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Vladimir Coufal and Michail Antonio.
This is a nervous time for all football fans, as we all take a collective breath in the hope that all of our players return back to our respective clubs fully fit.
Kudus has suffered a shoulder injury whilst away with Ghana, but what’s the news on our other stars?
West Ham star dealt blow whilst on international duty
Whilst this isn’t about an injury, it seems as though one Hammer has suffered a really big blow from a personal perspective.
According to French publication Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace, Areola is now France’s third-choice goalkeeper behind AC Milan ace Mike Maignan and Lens stopper Brice Samba, in spite of his superb form for West Ham this season.
That really must be a hammer blow for the 31-year-old. He has been one of our best performers this season, if not the best, and he has made it very clear that he is now David Moyes’s number one goalkeeper at London Stadium.
He must be wondering what more he needs to do in order to impress France manager Didier Deschamps.
Areola has gone from strength to strength for the Hammers this term, and he’s widely considered to be one of the very best shot-stoppers on the continent.
The former PSG and Real Madrid goalkeeper has made the second most saves in the Premier League this season with 110 – second only to Thomas Kaminski (Official Premier League website).
He has kept us out of serious trouble this season – I daren’t think about where we’d be without him.
Unfortunately for the West Ham goalkeeper, he has apparently been dealt a blow whilst away on international duty with France. Let’s hope that it doesn’t knock his confidence too badly.
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