To a certain extent, the international break is over for West Ham United defender Konstantinos Mavropanos.
West Ham United desperately need to keep Mavropanos fit, with the Greek a crucial figure in Nuno Espirito Santo’s team as they battle against relegation.
Indeed, Mavropanos has been brilliant for West Ham recently, and it’s difficult to imagine them being in a position to even dream about staying up without him.
This team stays up ahead of Spurs 😎
Only debate is Dinos or Todibo….
A graphic showing West Ham United's strongest XI.
Credit: GRV Media
It was a blow, then, that Mavropanos suffered a head injury while playing for Greece against Paraguay.
Now, there has been an update from the Greek media.
Mavropanos ruled out of Greece’s game with Hungary
According to Greek outlet Sportal, the national team have decided to rest the defender for their game against Hungary in Budapest on Tuesday night.
They do not offer too much insight into the nature of the injury but the report claims that the national team deem it appropriate “not to take the slightest risk after the blow he received to the head in the match against Paraguay .
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“The medical staff prioritized his full recovery, with the international stopper remaining out of the options for precautionary reasons.”
Choose between club and country… 🤔
Jarrod Bowen celebrates scoring his sides fourth goal during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B Group B2 match between England and Republic of Ireland
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Quite what that means for the Irons is unclear, and it would be unwise to speculate.
What is certain, however, is that West Ham are playing Leeds on Sunday in an FA Cup quarter-final.
Given that fellow defender Jean-Clair Todibo has also suffered an injury recently, Nuno could do without another one of his key defenders picking up a knock.
Konstantinos Mavropanos - FBL-FRIENDLY-GRE-PAR
Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP via Getty Images
Though Nuno could perhaps afford to rest players on Sunday in the FA Cup, he will need all hands on deck less than a week after.
Wolves are set to come to the London Stadium in a game that West Ham desperately must win if they are to have realistic hope of staying in the Premier League this season.
Hopefully by that point, all of Todibo, Mavropanos and Crysencio Summerville have returned to action.
West Ham’s future in the Premier League really does rest on their fitness.
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