Moyes gives Soucek a bit of needle

TOMAS SOUCEK is ready to defy stitches and plastic surgery to his face to help West Ham’s Europa League cause tonight.

But David Moyes has warned the midfielder, right, who was injured when being kicked by Salomon Rondon in the 1-0 win at Everton on Sunday, that he has some way to go before matching the number of stitches his manager had in his career.

Moyes was a tough centre-half in his playing days, with his clubs including Celtic and Preston.

He said: “I told Tomas, ‘Look at my eyebrows. They’ve been stitched up from years of being a centre-half and getting cut.’ He’s got a few more stitches before he gets to this level!

“Tomas wants to play. He’s had his lip stitched and had it redone by a plastic surgeon.

“He’s also had a couple of stitches on his cheek, a couple on his nose, in between his eyebrows. But he is OK. He’s been a bit sore.”

Moyes’ side host Genk tonight looking to make it three wins out of three in Group H. He said: “I’m really enjoying the European experience. I want the players to go far into it. I was fortunate to get to the quarter-finals with Everton.You have to get through the early parts – but the real big stuff kicks in after Christmas.” Midfielder Nikola Vlasic is set to make only his fourth start since joining from CSKA Moscow for £26.8million in August but the Croatia star said: “I trust the manager. He knows what is best for me.” WEST HAM (probable): Areola; Johnson, Dawson, Diop, Masuaku; Soucek, Rice; Yarmolenko, Fornals, Vlasic; Bowen. GENK (probable): Vandevoordt; Preciado, Cuesta, Lucumi, Arteaga; Toma, Heynen, Eiting; Ito, Onuachu, Ndayishimiye.