"Devastating blow" – Journalist drops fresh West Ham claim ahead of Frankfurt clash

West Ham‘s current centre-back crisis is a “devastating blow” for David Moyes, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Hammers boss has just one fit central defender available for their Europa League semi-final first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday, although he’ll have none against Arsenal on Sunday.

West Ham are gearing up for one of their biggest ever games later this week, although Moyes is having to deal with a serious crisis at the heart of his defence.

Already without Angelo Ogbonna, who suffered a serious knee injury against Liverpool in November and is facing a race against time to be fit again this season, Kurt Zouma then injured his ankle three days before the Lyon game and could also be sidelined for the rest of the campaign.

His absence allowed Issa Diop to come into the side for the 3-0 victory in France, but ankle ligament damage sustained against Burnley earlier this month has ruled him out for eight weeks, meaning he will also miss both games against the Bundesliga outfit.

Therefore, Craig Dawson, who was sent off against Chelsea and will be suspended for the visit of Arsenal this weekend, is Moyes’ only fit centre-back, which Jones has described as “devastating” ahead of one of the most important games in the club’s recent history.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “It’s been a devastating blow to see these defenders fall down one by one, and you’re in the situation where you’re wondering if Declan Rice is going to end the season playing at centre-back.”

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Against Chelsea, Moyes switched to a back three, starting Ben Johnson and Aaron Cresswell alongside Craig Dawson, with Vladimir Coufal and Arthur Masuaku as the