Insider drops early West Ham team news hint ahead of Lyon, David Moyes will be buzzing - opinion

ExWHUemployee has dropped a promising injury update concerning West Ham United right-back, Ben Johnson.

In recent comments made on The West Ham Way podcast, the club insider revealed that, despite missing out on the Hammers’ recent 2-1 win over Everton due to a tight hamstring, the 21-year-old could be in line for a return to David Moyes’ matchday squad for the visit of Olympique Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

Regarding the current condition of the England U21 international, Ex said: “Ben Johnson felt his hamstring a little when he was playing for England’s U21s and he trained on Friday and Saturday. But, at the end of training, he spoke to Moyes and said it felt a little bit tight. Hopefully, he’ll be available to start the Lyon game.”

Considering how impressive Johnson has been for West Ham in the current campaign, the news that the right-back’s injury is nothing too serious, as well as Ex’s claim that the 21-year-old could make a return to first-team action in what is undoubtedly the Hammers’ biggest game of the season this Thursday, is sure to have left Moyes buzzing.

Indeed, over his 16 Premier League appearances this term, the £8.1m-rated defender has excelled on the right of the Irons’ backline, scoring one goal, creating one big chance and helping his side keep three clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.3 interceptions, 1.8 tackles, 2.5 clearances and winning 3.2 duels – at a success rate of 53% – per game.

These returns have seen the £19k-per-week dynamo average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.90, ranking him as West Ham’s best performing right-back – ahead of both Vladimir Coufal and Ryan Fredericks – as well as the club’s 11th-best player overall.

However, it was over