ExWHUemployee has dropped a late injury update ahead of West Ham's upcoming Premier League fixture.

What's the latest?

In a recent post on The West Ham Way, the Hammers insider revealed that, despite earlier reports suggesting that Kurt Zouma could be in line for a return to first-team action against Manchester United on Saturday afternoon, David Moyes is leaving the decision as to whether or not to include the France international in his matchday squad today until the very last minute.

Speaking about the centre-back, Ex said: "The manager also is going to make a late decision as to whether he includes Kurt Zouma too following his injury and period out with [the pandemic]."

Fans will be sweating

Considering just how important Zouma has been to West Ham since joining the club last summer, the news that the defender is touch-and-go for today's trip to Old Trafford is sure to have left the London Stadium faithful sweating.

Indeed, of the 10 games that the £28.8m-rated colossus has missed due to injury and illness, the Irons' record stands at five losses, four wins and one draw, conceding 14 goals in the same period.

In comparison, over the 12 fixtures that West Ham have played with the £120k-per-week defender in the side, the Hammers' record is four losses, seven wins and one draw, with the team conceding just 13 goals over those dozen matches.

As such, it is evident that the Frenchman is already an integral part of Moyes' side, with his potential absence against Manchester United potentially reducing West Ham's chances of leaving Old Trafford with three points this afternoon. That could well have costly consequences in terms of the club's hopes of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League come the end of the season.

In other news: West Ham remain in the race for "crazy" January transfer, he'd be a huge upgrade