West Ham boss David Moyes urges Edson Alvarez to improve his discipline ahead of his return from suspension… as he admits the Irons have missed the ‘hugely important’ midfielder in their last two matches

West Ham boss David Moyes has challenged Edson Alvarez to improve his discipline with the midfielder set to return from a two-game suspension this weekend.

Alvarez missed the Hammers’ draw with Tottenham and defeat at Newcastle after picking up his 10th yellow card of the season against Aston Villa last month. He will also sit out the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final with Bayer Leverkusen next week after picking up three bookings in the competition.

The Mexican is in line to play against Wolves on Saturday afternoon but Moyes wants his midfielder to manage his performances better.

‘We’ve missed his presence, he’s been a big influence on us since we signed him at the start of the season. He’s been hugely important.

‘Unfortunately he’s had a couple of suspensions this year that haven’t helped us.

David Moyes has called for West Ham midfielder Edson Alvarez to improve his discipline

Alvarez has missed West Ham’s last two league games, and will serve a European suspension next week

‘Coming to the Premier League, quite often it takes you a bit of time. We see it a lot. I think Edson’s found the intensity of the Premier League difficult, he’s been booked too often.

‘We need to try and find a way where he doesn’t put himself in that situation because it affects the team and it has done in recent weeks. But we’re really pleased to have him back.’

Asked whether he’s had a conversation with Alvarez, Moyes added: ‘I’d expect him to be experienced enough to understand that you can’t go about getting yellow cards every week.

‘He’s wise enough, he doesn’t need me to tell him.

‘We’ve not got such a big squad where we can afford too many people to be out.

‘We lost him earlier in the season through suspension, we’ve had him out now and we’ll lose him for the game in Leverkusen in midweek as well. It begins to have an effect on you that you’re losing him for so many games.’

The Hammers will be without goalkeeper Alphonse Areola (groin) for the trip to Molineux, but Nayef Aguerd may return to the squad after recovering from a shoulder problem.