West Ham vs Genk: Europa League preview, team news, kick-off time

Tomas Soucek is back in training after suffering facial injury while Nikola Vlasic is in line for another start; Follow with our dedicated live blog across Sky Sports' digital platforms

Image: Tomas Soucek sustained a facial injury against Everton

Team news and stats ahead of West Ham vs Genk in Europa League Group H on Thursday; kick-off 8pm.

Team news

West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek needed plastic surgery following the horrific kick to the face he suffered against Everton.

Soucek was caught accidentally by the full force of Toffees striker Salomon Rondon's studs as they challenged for the ball.

Jamie Carragher says he judges Declan Rice the same way he used to watch Roy Keane and that the West Ham midfielder should not be expected to contribute more goals and assists

The Czech Republic international was left with nasty cuts near his eye and on his nose and lip following the incident during West Ham's 1-0 win at Goodison Park.

But Soucek has been patched up and is already back in training ahead of his side's Europa League clash against Genk on Thursday night.

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Croatia forward Nikola Vlasic is in line to play as he goes in search of his first goal since joining from CSKA Moscow in the summer.

Moyes: We're in a really happy moment

Image: West Ham will seek to continue their fine form against Genk

West Ham boss David Moyes said: "I'm really enjoying it. We're a really happy club at the moment.

"Everyone's enjoying the league games and Europe and I have to say I'm really enjoying the European experience.

"I want the players to go far in it. It would be great if we could top the group, but trying to make sure that we go through would be the main aim at the moment."

How to follow

Follow West Ham vs Genk with our dedicated live blog across Sky Sports' digital platforms.

Opta stats

West Ham manager David Moyes singled out Declan Rice for special praise following his side's victory over Everton.
  • West Ham and KRC Genk will face off in European competition for the first time. West Ham last played against Belgian opposition in 1976 when they lost the Cup Winners' Cup final against Anderlecht.
  • Genk have lost both of their away matches against English opponents to date - they were beaten 0-5 by Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League in 2011-12 before falling 1-2 to Liverpool in the same competition in November 2019.
  • Declan Rice has scored in both of West Ham's UEFA Europa League matches this season - he could become just the third West Ham player to score in three consecutive appearances in major European competition (excluding qualifiers) after David Cross in 1980 and Brian Dear in 1965.
  • Genk have only been beaten four times in 19 away matches in the UEFA Europa League (W7 D8). They beat SK Rapid Wien away from home on MD1 and could win consecutive away games in the competition for the first time.
  • West Ham boss David Moyes has only faced Belgian opposition once before during his managerial career - his Everton side were eliminated by Standard Liège in the first round of the UEFA Cup in 2008-09.

When are the Europa League group stage games?

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Open to watch

Matchday 4: November 4 2021
Matchday 5: November 25 2021
Matchday 6: December 9 2021

All the key Europa League dates

Round of 16: March 10 & 17 2022
Quarter-finals: April 7 & 14 2022
Semi-finals: April 28 & May 5 2022
Final: May 18 2022 (Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, Seville)

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