David Moyes has reported that Kurt Zouma, the injured defender, is “making good progress” but is unlikely to play in the first leg of the Europa Conference League semi-final against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, which will take place at home.
Zouma, who is 27 years old and plays as a centre-back, has been absent from the last two matches since sustaining an ankle injury during West Ham’s 4-3 loss to Crystal Palace at the end of last month.
Moyes confirmed during a pre-match press conference on Wednesday that Zouma has returned to training at West Ham’s Rush Green complex, but it is unlikely that he will be fit enough to participate in Thursday’s game against AZ Alkmaar.
“Kurt has had a day back, but he is just starting back really, and we are just trying to see how his ankle is and how he is getting on,” the Scotsman told reporters. Hopefully, he is making good progress.
“It’s a good chance that it is probably too soon for tomorrow, but we will see how he feels tomorrow and make a decision based on that.”
Additionally, Moyes has disclosed that the right-back Vladimir Coufal, who suffered a hamstring injury during a match against Manchester City earlier this month, is still unavailable for selection. Similarly, Gianluca Scamacca, who underwent knee surgery last month, is also still on the sidelines.
Moyes added: “I don’t think there are any new knocks. I think there is a lot of tiredness and a lot of fatigue around every camp at the moment from the Premier League. But I think we are all okay.”