Why isn’t Edson Álvarez playing for West Ham United?

West Ham United are without Mexican midfielder Edson Álvarez for Thursday’s Europa League fixture against Serbian side TSC Bačka Topola.

Álvarez and summer signing Mohammed Kudus are both unavailable for the Hammers after picking up an illness this week.

David Moyes’ side are suffering from a number of fitness issues as they battle for top spot in Group A. West Ham have won three of their opening four games and sit level with SC Freiburg at the top of the group.

Álvarez has impressed since his summer move to the Hammers and has become a mainstay in defensive midfield. He and James Ward-Prowse have helped to fill the void left by former captain Declan Rice, who left for Arsenal over summer.

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West Ham also missing Bowen and Antonio

The Premier League side are suffering a number of absences for Thursday’s Europa League clash. Moyes confirmed earlier this week that Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen are both out due to knee injuries, with Antonio likely to be out for up to three weeks.

At the team’s press conference on Wednesday Moyes confirmed their absences, adding that they were without another two unnamed players.

“Jarrod hasn’t travelled and we have another couple who have some illness who haven’t travelled, but I am not prepared to say who they are,” Moyes said.

Sharp-eyed West Ham supporters noted that Edson Álvarez and Mohammed Kudus were both missing from the travel and training photographs shared by the club. Both players featured in last weekend’s 2-1 Premier League victory over Burnley but are absent from the starting XI.

With Antonio and Bowen both out Moyes has turned to young forward Divin Mubama from the start on Thursday. The 19-year-old striker has impressed in the club’s youth teams and has already made two substitute appearances in the Europa League.