Senegal's elimination from the African Cup of Nations may have been bad news for the West African nation - but potentially a huge boost for West Ham ahead of this coming weekend's trip to Liverpool.
Chiekhou Kouyate - who played a full 90 minutes in Senegal's 2-0 defeat against Algeria, one that sent them tumbling out of the competition - will now return to West Ham sooner than expected.That means the midfielder should return to England this week - and possibly in time to face Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, according to co-chairman David Gold.
Senegal were knocked out of the of AFCON tonight. Cheikhou Kouyaté will be returning soon and could be available for Saturday. dg
— David Gold (@davidgold) January 28, 2015
Kouyate, who joined West Ham last June in a £7million switch from Anderlecht has made 16 appearances for United since moving to England - all in the Premier League. His only goal so far came in the 2-1 defeat at home to Arsenal on 28 December.
* Senegal's exit also meant the end of the road for head coach Alain Giresse, who yesterday complained bitterly about Diafra Sakho's inclusion in West Ham's match day squad for the FA Cup tie with Bristol City.
"I am out of contract. My contract has finished," he said. "The road ends here for Senegal. There will be a lot of changes in and around the team. What happens next I don't know, but I know what I am going to do."
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