Update on Said Benrahma After New Signing Was Left Out of Squad to Face Man City

Said Benrahma's absence in West Ham's 1-1 draw with Manchester City was not related to injury concerns of any kind, with the Hammers' new signing simply not judged to be prepared for selection in the matchday squad.

The Algerian winger made the move across to east London on deadline day for an initial £5m, with West Ham later obliged to make the deal permanent for £20m.

There was some suggestion that the structure of the deal was changed from an initial payment of £25m on account of some issues which surfaced while the 25-year-old was taking the second part of his medical at his new club.

However, it has now been revealed that Benrahma's exclusion from West Ham's squad against Manchester City was unrelated to any injury concerns, and instead could be explained by the player's lack of readiness, according to football.london.

Benrahma trained with his new teammates in the week leading up to Saturday's game after having signed, and there was a sighting of the attacker doing some fitness exercises with first-team coach Stuart Pearce a couple of hours before the game itself.

Moyes had suggested in the build-up to the game, where West Ham led courtesy of Michail Antonio's acrobatic effort before Phil Foden equalised, that Benrahma would have to wait before his first taste of Premier League football.

"Said is doing well," Moyes said of his new signing's progress.

"He needs to get up to speed with what we want and where we are at so it has given me the opportunity to take a bit more time with him. I have said the same before with the boys from the Championship, I am not in any rush to put them in."

Benrahma may get his chance to make his mark for the Hammers in their next fixture, which sees them travelling to Premier League champions Liverpool on Saturday.