Frenzied activity has been reported from Hammers Rush Green, more commonly known as 'Goose Green', training facility as medical staff struggle to ensure the club have a fully fit and capable right back available for the all important UEFA Europa League Cup quarter final 1st leg against Lyon on Thursday evening.
Young Ben Johnson returned from England duty with a hamstring injury and was unavailable to face Everton, whereas Vladimir Coufal is only just returning to fitness following quite extensive groin surgery that was first thought to be a hernia, but proved to be a little more complicated on further investigation.
This left Ryan Fredericks to fill the right back berth on Sunday, the former youth sprinter acquitted himself reasonably well, in fact some say he had a really good game, which he did in some ways. However one of his best achievements during the Toffees game, was nicking the ball off of 'Rich I roll over son' just as the visitor's striker was about to pull the trigger on a certain goal, an admirable challenge, had it not been for the fact that it WAS Fredericks who gave the ball away in the first place!
We are of the opinion that Fredericks would get 'shredded' by a wily Lyon attack which will feature Tete, a player signed as a result of the Ukraine conflict who played for Shakhtar Donetsk, whereas Hammers were not allowed to make similar signings due to the Premier league's intervention.
Fredericks put his heart and soul into his performance on Sunday, but it is to be hoped that Vlad the impaler Coufal or young Ben Johnson will be fit for the Lyon game, David Moyes will as usual keep his cards close to his chest in his pre-match presser, so fans will only find out on the night who will be playing. - LN
