Aguerd Aggravates Injury?

West Ham United's 26 year old Morocco International centre back Nayef Aguerd is facing a lengthy spell out of the game following the injury he sustained playing against Spain in the Qatar World Cup. Aguerd was on the receiving end of some 'tough but fair' challenges during the game before finally having to leave the field following a desperate last gasp saving tackle.

It was not clear from the actual footage whether Aguerd's injury was in the same region as the one that required operating on at the beginning of the season, but there is a considerable groundswell of opinion that it may well be a question of Aguerd playing too much too soon in order to represent his country at a World Cup, albeit one that is deeply flawed in it's origin.

The only encouragement for the club's anxious medical team was that Aguerd was holding his thigh when he exited the pitch, as opposed to the ankle that he recently had surgery on. It is always difficult to assess 'impact' injuries, especially those sustained when the player is pumped full of adrenalin, it is generally accepted that at least 24 hours are required before a proper comprehensive assessment can be made, sometimes even longer!

Hammers don't seem to have much luck with their players and injuries sustained while on International duty, Aguerd joins a long list of players injured while representing their clubs, Dean Ashton, David James, Manu Lanzini and Declan Rice to name a few. It s to be hoped that the injury is not too severe, but sending players off to play in a global tournament slap bang in the middle of a normal domestic season was always going to have consequences.

Anyway, Aguerd didn't look too badly injured as he celebrated Morocco's absolutely outstanding victory on penalties over Cup favourites Spain, will he be fit for the 1/4 final? - Ed