West Ham United manager, Julen Lopetegui, has described Mohammed Kudus' return as "good news" for the team.

The manager emphasized that the Ghanaian's comeback is crucial, especially with the demanding schedule ahead. Kudus has resumed training and is fully prepared to rejoin the squad.

"He's ready, working well, and happy to be back, which is good news for us because we have a lot of upcoming matches in a row, and it's a good thing we have as many options as possible for these games," Lopetegui said during a pre-match press conference.

Mohammed Kudus is set to feature in West Ham's away fixture against Leicester City on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, in matchday 14 of the Premier League.

This match marks his return to club football since October, following a five-game suspension.

The forward was sent off during a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur after a heated clash involving several players, including Mickey van de Ven, which escalated into multiple on-field altercations.

The FA Regulatory Commission sanctioned Kudus with a five-game ban and fined him £60,000 for violent conduct, stressing the importance of preventing such incidents in the future.

During Kudus' absence, West Ham managed two wins, two losses, and one draw in their last five matches.

Kudus' return provides a significant boost for the Hammers as they aim for greater consistency to climb higher in the Premier League standings.

EE/EK