David Moyes say West HamNayef Aguerd, a £30 million summer signing, will make his highly anticipated debut against Silkeborg in the Europa Conference League this evening.
The defender of Morocco was David Moyes‘ first big-money recruit when he arrived from Rennes in June, but he promptly sustained an ankle injury in a… preseason friendly requiring surgery.
There were fears that Aguerd might even miss the World Cup but the 26-year-old is ahead of schedule and is now finally lining up for his first competitive appearance.
“He is not in the running for Manchester United on Sunday, but we hope to have him in the squad (for Silkeborg),” said Hammers manager Moyes.
‘I want to give him time. He’s a good reader of the game – he’s fast and he’s good in the air.
“But because he hasn’t played any Premier League games, it’s difficult for us to give an overall assessment.
“I don’t think he’s ready for the Premier League games, but we’ll see for the European games.
He will play for Morocco at the World Cup. I’ve been in touch with one of the scouts who I think is very eager to come out and see him for Qatar.
“And I hope that when he returns from the World Cup he will be much more ready and we will have to start getting him ready for the Premier League.”
The Hammers, the semi-finalists of last season’s Europa League, have already advanced to the knockout stages and need just a point from one of their last two games to ensure they top Group B and the last 16 reach without the need for a play-off.
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