Nayef Aguerd and Angelo Ogbonna, the centre-backs for West Ham United, have both begun training ahead of the Bournemouth game and this Thursday’s second leg against Gent in the Europa Conference League quarterfinal.
After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the Hammers will take on Gent of Belgium at the London Stadium. The winner will play either Anderlecht of Belgium or AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands in the semifinals.
All 22 of the club’s first-team players and academy goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi participated in the training session, except for forward Gianluca Scamacca, who will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery on Saturday morning.
That includes centre-backs Aguerd and Ogbonna, who both missed Sunday’s 2-2 tie with Arsenal due to injuries they sustained last week in Belgium—respectively, ankle and back problems.
Both, though, participated in Wednesday’s practice, so Aguerd may play against Gent in the second leg. Even if Ogbonna is healthy, he won’t play because he’s suspended for the upcoming match.
Flynn Downes, a midfielder, Vladimir Coufal, a right defender, and Divin Mubama, an academy striker, are all one booking away from missing the opening leg of the semifinals should West Ham advance.
