---
title: "West Ham: Ben Johnson ‘struggling’ with injury"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-ben-johnson-reaction/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Clubbe"
section: "Premier League News"
published: "2022-08-28T14:02:40Z"
modified: "2022-08-28T14:02:40Z"
---

# West Ham: Ben Johnson ‘struggling’ with injury

**[West Ham United](https://www.footballfancast.com/west-ham-united-news) defender Ben Johnson was visibly ‘struggling’ with injury in the first half against Aston Villa this afternoon.**

### The lowdown: Johnson injury

The Hammers gave as good as they got for the most part in the first 45 minutes against Villa as David Moyes’ side went in search of a first point, and goal of the Premier League season.

However, the Irons were forced into an early change when young full-back Johnson seemed to [injure a hamstring](https://www.skysports.com/football/a-villa-vs-west-ham/464666#:~:text=INJURY!%20Bad%20news%20for%20West%20Ham%20as%20Johnson%20goes%20to%20ground%20clutching%20his%20hamstring.%20The%20right%2Dback%20won%27t%20be%20able%20to%20continue%20and%20is%20replaced%20by%20Coufal.) midway through the half.

Watching on, one journalist had his say on the incident and the potential problem facing the right-back…

### The latest: Johnson ‘struggling’

Taking to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/JontyColman/status/1563879405755289600), Jonty Colman noticed the 22-year-old “struggling” with the injury shortly prior to his 23rd-minute withdrawal in place of Vladimir Coufal.

The [football.london](https://twitter.com/JontyColman) writer noticed: ”Ben Johnson struggling with an injury of some form. Likely a straight swap.”

[West Ham latest updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-updates-2/)

### The verdict: Fingers crossed

Injuries have very much [begun to take hold](https://www.premierinjuries.com/injury-table.php) at the London Stadium, particularly at the back, with Craig Dawson and Nayef Aguerd both already missing from Moyes’ defensive options.

The West Ham manager will be hoping that the problem suffered by Johnson doesn’t rule him out for too long, despite having a [very experienced operator](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/vladimir-coufal/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/157672) in Coufal to call upon off the bench.

Johnson was having a decent start to the game before his enforced withdrawal, completing five of his nine passes, making two interceptions and winning one tackle ([Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/aston-villa-west-ham-united/MP)).

Should the severity of the issue mean that the [England under-21](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-johnson/nationalmannschaft/spieler/468002/verein_id/9565) ace is ruled out for a prolonged period, GSB and Moyes could well be forced back into the transfer market before the September 1 deadline passes.