06 December 2023 , 14:38
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West Ham captain Kurt Zouma has been declared available for Thursday's trip to Tottenham Hotspur.
Hammers boss David Moyes confirmed the French defender will be available, as the club continue to offer a reward of £25,000 for information leading to the arrest of burglars who broke into his home at the weekend.
Zouma and his young family were in the house during Saturday’s break-in, and he missed the following day’s match against Crystal Palace Palace, with West Ham saying at the time that he was absent for “personal reasons”. West Ham said the burglars took items of “significant value and of huge personal and sentimental importance to the family.”
And while the Hammers skipper was shaken by the incident, Moyes has said he is training well and expected to return to the starting XI away to Spurs.
“He’s been fine,” the manager said. “He’s been back in. It’s been a terrible situation for him, the club are supporting him really well. He’s our captain and we’re fully behind him, supportive. I don’t think anybody would like it to happen to them.
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"The club have put a reward up and hopefully that can help get the people arrested for it.”
Striker Michail Antonio continues to be ruled out, however, but the Jamaica international is showing signs of progress after injuring a medial ligament in his knee last month.
Moyes added: “He’s coming on, he’s running. He’s still feeling it a bit twisting and turning and kicking the ball. I don’t know exactly. It could be quick, could be a bit longer, we’re not quite sure yet how he’s going to progress the last little bit.”
After Sunday’s draw with Palace Moyes called on his players to show “more personality” in their play but he is expecting a daunting test away to Spurs and is full of admiration for their head coach Ange Postecoglou.
“He’s done remarkably. Tottenham are a really, really good side and he’s made a big difference to what they do and how they play. He’s made a big difference to the crowd and the atmosphere.
"I’m a bit surprised that everybody else was surprised after how well he did at Celtic. For anyone who follows it, to manage Celtic Football Club is enormous, the pressure and what comes with the job.
"Ange was able to cope and deal with it. If you’re asking me at the minute, I think Tottenham are as good as any side in the Premier League.”