There has been an update on the injury suffered by key defender Jean-Clair Todibo before West Ham’s defeat at Aston Villa, which leaves their Premier League lives hanging in the balance.
West Ham’s woeful 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa proved costly in more ways than one.
Jean-Clair Todibo was set to start in a back three for the Hammers at Villa Park but was seen leaving the warm-up ahead of kick-off.
Nuno Espirito Santo was forced to make a decision, ditching his back three plan and replacing Todibo with midfielder Freddie Potts.
West Ham reporter made Todibo injury claim before deleting post
Todibo was brilliant in last week’s draw with Man City and he was sorely missed as West Ham were easily beaten by Villa.
The Hammers were fortunate they were not beaten by more goals.
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Nuno Espirito Santo, manager of West Ham United, looks on during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom, on March 22, 2026. Sweden's coach Graham Potter arrives on the pitch prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification Group B football match between Sweden and Slovenia, in Solna on November 18, 2025.
Now there has been a Todibo injury update as West Ham’s Premier League survival hangs in balance.
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It was unclear what the issue was with Todibo after his late withdrawal ahead of kick-off at Villa Park.
West Ham are already missing their best attacking player with Crysencio Summerville out with a calf injury.
Nuno Espirito Santo, Manager of West Ham United, leaves the field at half time during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and West Ham United
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
So the last thing the Hammers need is to lose a top defender too.
The Athletic’s West Ham reporter Roshane Thomas was at the game and posted footage of Todibo leaving the field on social media.
Thomas claims Todibo appears to have suffered a calf injury too, saying the defender was seen holding that area before being forced out of the game.
The reporter says Todibo was being consoled by his teammates as he left the pitch.
Reporter claimed Todibo may have suffered calf injury
For reasons unknown, Thomas has since deleted the post.
But the Frenchman cut a frustrated figure on the West Ham bench as TV cameras zoomed in showing him shaking his head and puffing out his cheeks.
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The blow comes with West Ham’s Premier League future now very much on a knife edge following the disappointing defeat to Villa.
Leeds picked up another point against Brentford to effectively go five clear of West Ham owing to their superior goal difference.
Jean-Clair Todibo during West Ham's Premier League game against Chelsea.
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Forest then beat Spurs 3-0 in north London, widening their goal difference advantage over the Hammers to nine goals.
That is worth a point at this stage of the season, meaning West Ham are essentially four points behind Forest.
Spurs remain just a point above the Hammers but also have a vastly superior goal difference, meaning West Ham must finish at least a point above them too if they want to stay up.
Tottenham have much kinder fixtures than West Ham in the final seven games.
Forest have the toughest run-in other than the Hammers but will now be full of confidence.
With Todibo potentially out now and West Ham cautious about Summerville, it is difficult to see how things could have gone much worse for Nuno’s side this weekend.
Most analysts have stated 38 points should be enough to survive this season. But the Hammers may require at least 39 given their inferior goal difference.
Therefore West Ham’s new reality is that they must win three and draw one of their remaining seven games.
Relegation run-in remaining fixtures:
Team Remaining fixtures (Opponent + H/A)
West Ham United Wolves (H), Crystal Palace (A), Everton (H), Brentford (A), Arsenal (H), Newcastle United (A) and Leeds United (H)
Nottingham Forest Aston Villa (H), Burnley (H), Sunderland (A), Chelsea (A), Newcastle United (H), Man United (A) and Bournemouth (H)
Tottenham Hotspur Sunderland (A), Brighton (H), Wolves (A), Aston Villa (A), Leeds United (H), Chelsea (A) and Everton (H)
Leeds United Man United (A), Wolves (H), Bournemouth (A), Burnley (H), Spurs (A), Brighton (H) and West Ham (A)
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