Tomas Soucek was ‘afraid’ as West Ham ace opens up on potential ‘collapse’

West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek has revealed he feared missing far more playing time after suffering severe ankle ligament damage over the summer. Doctors noted his ankle looked like it had been hit by a car, but Soucek chose to avoid surgery, allowing him to return after missing just eight Championship matches. He made his comeback against Queens Park Rangers before recently scoring his 50th goal for the club against Southampton.

Soucek explained that the four-month recovery helped him mentally reset and avoid a collapse after years of continuous play. Despite interest from European clubs following West Ham's relegation, the 31-year-old signed a new contract to help the team fight for promotion, while leaving open the possibility of returning to the Czech Republic in 2028.