David Moyes has warned Edson Alvarez his indiscipline is harming West Ham’s push for Europe, as he prepares to welcome the midfielder back from suspension for Saturday’s trip to Wolves.
Alvarez has enjoyed a superb first season in English football, having been handed the unenviable task of replacing Declan Rice when signing from Ajax last summer.
However, the Mexican has missed three Premier League matches through suspension - including the last two - after racking up ten yellow cards, and will also be banned when the Hammers travel to Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League quarter-final next week.
"I think the intensity and the speed is probably where he’s still getting used to the Premier League,” Moyes said. "For us, we’ve not got such a big squad where we can afford too many people to be out.
“We lost him earlier in the season through suspension, we’ve had him out now and we’ll lose him for the game in Leverkusen in midweek as well. It begins to have an effect on you that you’re losing him for so many games.
“He’s been booked too often. We need to try and find a way where he doesn’t put himself in that situation because it affects the team and it has done in recent weeks.”
The Irons have taken just two points from the five league games Alvarez has missed since making his full debut in August, including when throwing away a 3-1 lead in the final 13 minutes at Newcastle last weekend.
I’d expect him to be experienced enough to understand that you can’t go about getting yellow cards every week
“We’ve missed his presence,” Moyes added. “He’s been a big influence on us since we signed him at the start of the season. He’s been hugely important to the team.
“I’ve not had a conversation with him because I’d expect him to be experienced enough to understand that you can’t go about getting yellow cards every week. He’s wise enough, he doesn’t need me to tell him.”
While Alvarez will return for the trip to Molineux, West Ham remain without first-choice goalkeeper Alphonse Areola because of a groin problem, while centre-back Nayef Aguerd faces a late fitness test to see whether he is ready to make his comeback from a shoulder issue.
