Niclas Fullkrug could yet save Julen Lopetegui from West Ham United sack
Julen Lopetegui is hanging onto his job at West Ham United as it stands, with Niclas Fullkrug potentially his last trump card.
The German striker returned earlier than some anticipated as a substitute in Tuesday's (3 December) defeat at Leicester City, adding a consolation goal in the dying embers with the game lost.
It is Fullkrug's first goal of an injury-ravaged spell in England so far, during which time the team have vastly underachieved for their summer of spending and left Lopetegui seemingly on the brink.
The loss to relegation-threatened Leicester, who have just begun a new era under Ruud van Nistelrooy, has sparked an intense day of reports around Lopetegui's future.
David Ornstein [The Athletic, 4 December] says the club have not set a timeframe on a decision but options are being considered.
Niclas Fullkrug could save Lopetegui from the brink at West Ham
As it stands, all markers point towards Lopetegui reaching the end of his spell at the London Stadium, having taken charge of just 16 games, winning five.
But football has seen far stranger things happen than a turnaround that very few Hammers fans are eagerly anticipating.
Fullkrug could stay fit and become the weapon Lopetegui and the club desperately need at this time, with very limited forward options currently at his disposal.
The German international's goalscoring record as a late bloomer in recent years could be crucial, having now netted just minutes into his return from injury to get off the mark in the English game.
A handful up top for club and country, the 31-year-old could be the man to inspire the Irons as the new spearhead of the attack, with a winnable fixture against Wolves coming up next Monday [9 December].
And it would be ironic considering the fact that despite his arrival in the summer for north of £25million, Lopetegui appeared to prefer Michail Antonio to lead the line as Fullkrug joined the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the bench as the season began.
In other West Ham news, Jamie O'Hara name-drops a potential short-term successor to Lopetegui.