"Massive blow" – Journalist reacts after West Ham update emerges from Rush Green before Lyon tie

Kurt Zouma‘s absence against Lyon is a “massive blow” for West Ham, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The centre-back hobbled out of the Hammers’ game against Brentford on Sunday and might not play again this season.

Zouma has enjoyed a fine first campaign since moving to the London Stadium from Chelsea last summer, but he’s had his fair share of injuries.

Firstly, he missed 11 games after a hamstring injury sustained against his former club back in December and he is now facing another long spell on the sidelines after injuring his knee in West Ham’s defeat at Brentford last weekend.

Following the setback, the Hammers confirmed that Zouma will miss their crunch Europa League tie against Lyon, but the Guardian believe that having undergone scans on the issue, it could be far worse.

The report suggests that the 27-year-old, who’s made 27 appearances for the Hammers this term, is facing the prospect of more than a month on the treatment table, which could be enough to see him miss the remainder of the campaign.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “It’s a massive blow to lose somebody like Kurt Zouma for such a big game as this is for West Ham.

“He had a lot of defending to do in the first leg and defended resolutely in that game, and you would expect it to be another tough game in France, so to lose someone of Zouma’s quality and experience is going to be a huge blow for David Moyes, who’s already without Angelo Ogbonna.”

Erik ten Hag TALKS Man United job! Hear more on The Football Terrace…

West Ham only have four senior centre-backs on their books, and with half of those currently out injured, Moyes doesn’t have many options ahead of the game in France.

Ogbonna is already recovering from a long-term knee injury sustained in