West Ham star Mohammed Kudus will not be involved in their Premier League clash with Brighton and Hove Albion tonight after he was selected to represent Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The news may surprise may come as a surprise to many Hammers fans after Mohammad Salah starred in Liverpool’s win over Newcastle United 24 hours earlier.
Kudus has been an integral player for the Hammers following his summer move from Ajax, and has scored six league goals so far.
After being selected by manager Chris Houghton, Kudus will be hoping to be a part of their opening AFCON game against Cape Verde on Sunday, January 14, before group facing Egypt and Mozambique.
Mohammed Kudus will not play a part of West Ham’s clash with Brighton this evening
The 23-year-old was selected by Ghana to represent them at Africa Cup of Nations
It comes just 24 hours after Mohamed Salah, who will also play at AFCON, starred in Liverpool’s win over Newcastle
Mail Sport understands that the winger is nursing a minor hamstring injury and that the club are awaiting the results of a scan – hence why he has not travelled as of yet. However, the 23-year-old is expected to join Ghana in the coming days.
Premier League clubs are obliged to release their players for AFCON on New Year’s Day – but the Hammers tried to hold onto their star winger for their game against the Seagulls.
Former Newcastle manager, Houghton, denied the request as he was eager to have his players to report on time.
His absence will no doubt be a huge blow for the Hammers – as only Jarrod Bowen has scored more times than Kudus this season.
Depending on Ghana’s success in the tournament, the 23-year-old could miss as many as six games for Moyes’ side.
Speaking Kudus’ absence, Moyes said: ‘I think we are still up against it with the level of competition but we’re never going to say we’re not going for it. ‘I think the next month with the boys going away to the African Nations, just the whole programme. How can we cope without Kudus who has been sensational? How is Paqueta’s injury?
‘We have to make sure we’ve not lost a big part of it because the truth is we’ve hardly had any injuries all season and we’ve not had to make too many changes and it’ll be now for others to step up and show what they can do.’
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, like Kudus, was selected by Egypt ahead of the tournament. They will also begin their campaign on January 14.
Despite Ghana blocking Kudus from playing tonight – Mail Sport understands that the winger is nursing a minor hamstring injury
The Hammers are awaiting the results of a scan – but is expected to join Ghana in the coming days
In the build up to their clash with Eddie Howe’s Magpies, Liverpool confirmed that Salah will leave for Africa Cup of Nations duty after Monday’s fixture.
A club statement read: ‘Mohamed Salah will link up with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations following Liverpool’s clash with Newcastle United.’
The Egyptian would go on to score twice in a 4-2 win and is now expected to join up with his country before their opening game on Sunday.
