David Moyes explains Manuel Lanzini and Vladimir Coufal absence from West Ham draw vs Newcastle

David Moyes was forced into a number of changes to his starting XI for the draw with Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon after injuries to Vladimir Coufal and Manuel Lanzini.

The West Ham manager made a third alteration to his starting XI recalling Kurt Zouma in place of Issa Diop after the French international had recovered from sickness.

In Coufal's absence, Moyes started Ryan Fredericks at right-back only to substitute the defender at half-time with Ben Johnson coming on. Fredericks had struggled during the game, particularly after receiving a 21st-minute booking, and Johnson was called upon to counter the threat of the Magpies goalscorer Joe Willock.

Despite Coufal's disappointing performance against Leicester City's Harvey Barnes last time out, the Czech international is Moyes' preferred option at right-back and can expect to be recalled once his injury clears up.

In the absence of Coufal and Lanzini, Moyes handed positions in the matchday squad to youngsters Aji Alese and Dan Chesters, however, as expected neither man made it off the bench. Moyes only made two of his allotted three changes during the game, something that is becoming quite common at West Ham even with the Scot admitting he would like to have up to five substitutions available to him.

Lanzini's absence was perhaps even more detrimental to the team than Coufal's with the Argentine in fine form of late. The No.10 has the ability to transition defence into attack at great speed and play line-splitting passes into the forwards.

It was Lanzini's introduction from the bench against Watford that changed the game as he provided the assists for Jarrod Bowen's second-half winner. Lanzini was only on the bench that day after an achilles injury and the