IN THE aftermath of Saturday's 4-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest, West Ham fans joked about their game-changing impact substitute: goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Introduced for the injured Lukasz Fabianski at 0-0 and with little more than 20 minutes to play, he looked on as his previously goal-shy team-mates plundered four in 15 minutes.
Whatever sorcerous effect the Frenchman had, David Moyes could do with it lasting, having yesterday confirmed the more sober fallout from the weekend, in the shape of a fractured cheekbone and eye-socket for Fabianski, his long-standing No1. West Ham are yet to determine whether he will need surgery and, as such, there is no timeframe being put on his absence.
But, after starting every Premier League game this season, the 37-year-old is now set for a significant spell on the sidelines, just as the Hammers' schedule ramps back up.
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Denne historien er fra March 01, 2023-utgaven av Evening Standard.
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