In east London, the international break has offered Edson Álvarez a first route back towards West Ham United’s matchday plans. The Mexico midfielder has not played a competitive fixture for almost two months, but his recent involvement in a behind-closed-doors-style friendly and an encouraging update from Nuno Espírito Santo have placed him in contention for this weekend’s trip to Queens Park Rangers.
Álvarez’s inclusion has not yet been confirmed, though West Ham’s Portuguese coach indicated that his squad is close to full availability ahead of the ninth round of the 2026-27 Championship season. “The only player who is clearly unavailable is Keiber Lamadrid,” Espírito Santo said, leaving the door open for the Mexican international to return.
A long absence nearing its end
The 28-year-old’s last official appearance came on 8 August, when West Ham faced Portsmouth in the cup. He has subsequently missed the club’s past 10 matches in all competitions, a spell that removed one of Mexico’s established midfield figures from the weekly rhythm of English football.
A return at Loftus Road would therefore represent more than a place on the bench. After weeks away from the squad, Álvarez would begin the work of re-entering West Ham’s rotation and rebuilding his role over the remainder of the campaign.
Minutes against Wycombe offer a useful sign
There was, however, a small but significant step during the international window. On 2 October, Álvarez came on in a friendly against Wycombe and played around 30 minutes, his first time on the pitch after the extended absence from competitive action.
That outing did not change the fact that his official return remains subject to the final selection, but it gave the midfielder match practice and suggested that the recovery process has reached a more advanced stage. For West Ham, heading across London to face QPR, the weekend may bring a familiar Mexican presence back into view.
