West Ham’s Worst-Case Scenario: A Looming Concern
Signing a striker for £27 million only for him to get injured and need surgery before even making his Premier League debut feels like a classic West Ham tale.
It’s difficult to determine the truth behind the rumors at this point, but Niclas Füllkrug’s initial diagnosis and expected return timeline have clearly been off.
For those who may have missed the news, Füllkrug sustained an injury while training with the German national team in September. Initially, it was believed that his Achilles injury would heal quickly, with expectations of a return within one or two matches. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case.
In a discussion with the club last week, Claret & Hugh were told that the German striker would be back to face Tottenham on October 19th. However, rumors emerged over the weekend suggesting that the injury was more severe than initially thought, and Füllkrug’s attempts to return to training with the Hammers have been met with significant pain.
As Martin mentioned earlier, C&H reached out to a key West Ham insider today who couldn’t confirm or deny the rumors regarding Füllkrug potentially needing surgery.
If the worst-case scenario proves accurate, it would place significant pressure on Michail Antonio, who has traveled to the Caribbean for two Nations League matches with Jamaica. This situation is far from ideal, as the Hammers would be relying on a fatigued and injury-prone 34-year-old to spearhead their attack.
This isn’t to undermine Antonio’s talent—especially considering he appeared back to his best during the Irons’ 4-1 victory over Ipswich last weekend. Rather, it highlights how crucial he has become and how heavily West Ham’s progress now relies on senior forwards who have a history of injuries.
Source: https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-hams-worst-case-scenario-worryingly-close/
