‘He will remain available’ – Moyes to stick with West Ham cat-kicker Zouma

West Ham United boss David Moyes has confirmed that Kurt Zouma “will remain available” even though a video has emerged of him kicking his pet cat.

Prior to West Ham’s game versus Watford, a video surfaced of Zouma kicking and slapping his pet cat.

Despite there being an ongoing police enquiry into the incident, the defender started for the Hammers on Tuesday night.

Zouma’s animal cruelty puts West Ham under a harsh spotlight

Moyes said pre-match that Zouma was still selected as he is one of West Ham’s best players. 

The Hammers ended up beating Watford 1-0 at the London Stadium. Jarrod Bowen’s deflected goal in the second half proved to be the winner. 

While speaking about the victory, Moyes stated that Zouma “will remain available for selection” moving forward:

“We’ve played a lot better than we did tonight, but Watford have improved. Roy’s tightened them up and he’s showed that tonight. We were a bit fortunate with the goal, but our second-half play merited the win,” Moyes said (via BBC Sport)

“It looked for long periods that we weren’t going to win anything. We got a bit better when [Manuel] Lanzini came on. Their goalkeeper made a really good save, but our goalkeeper made a really good save too.”

On climbing back into the top four: “I didn’t know that. I think if that’s the case it just shows what the Premier League’s like. Watford came very close to getting another point tonight.”

On Kurt Zouma: “He will remain available for selection. The club will sort the other side of it out and I’ll look after the football side.”

Also speaking post-match, Bowen admitted that West Ham found it “difficult” against Watford:

“It was tough. They have changed manager, got a good point at Burnley and were really solid here. It was difficult at times, we had a lot of the ball and it was a case of keep plugging away. With the goal we got a slice of luck but it happens.

“I came into a bit of space and it was driving and driving and I just thought ‘if you don’t shoot, you don’t score’. Got the shot and the deflection and thankfully it wrong-footed the keeper and went in.

“Every week putting me in then starting eleven gives me confidence as a player. It is then little developments to my game, not just with the ball and without the ball. It is coming into those pockets of space.

“We know how important tonight was even if it was an ugly game. All we can do is focus on ourselves. We have a lot of games coming up so it is important to take maximum points.”