The bad news is that Kurt Zouma is out for three months with a hamstring injury and Ben Johnson is out for a month. As with Ogbonna, Zouma tried to play on and West Ham's medical team really have to be more proactive in taking injured players off at the first sign of trouble. Somehow we have to keep Craig Dawson and Issa Diop fit and make an emergency signing in January.
In the event of either getting injured Ben Johnson is out for a month and when he's fit could probably do a job at centre back with his physique and strength. While another option would be to bring in Kral and play Declan Rice at centre back where he performed really well in the latter stages against Chelsea — though that would deprive WHU of an immense force in midfield. The obvious signing would be Burnley's James Tarkowski who is out of contract at the end of the season — but can Burnley be persuaded to part with their centre back when they are in a relegation battle? WHU will have to throw quite a bit of Daniel Kretinsky's money at them.
While the injuries to Ogbonna, Zouma and Johnson prove we can't rely on Antonio staying fit, and with Benrahma away in Africa for a month the Irons must also sign Jesse Lingard and a back-up striker in January. If West Ham are going to make the top four we're going to have to do it the hard way.
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