Henry Winter raises West Ham United issue after what Julen Lopetegui said in public
Henry Winter believes West Ham United have a clear “issue” keeping their strikers fit after Julen Lopetegui provided an update on Niclas Fullkrug.
Speaking on talkSPORT’s Premier League All Access podcast (17 October, 46m 52s), Winter said that Fullkrug could have a “structural issue” exacerbated by his playing style after a new injury setback.
Lopetegui confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Fullkrug was suffering from “complications” with an existing lower-leg injury, and Winter argued that this is nothing new at the London Stadium.
He said: “It’s partly his playing style, maybe it’s a structural issue that he has. You would assume the club would have done due diligence, and the medicals these days are so intense.
“But that is unfortunate, because they’ve got an issue up there in terms of keeping fit strikers.”
Niclas Fullkrug transfer looking worse by the day at West Ham
Opting for a 31-year-old striker and shelling out £27million on him always looked a risky move by the Irons this summer, particularly with two other centre-forwards aged 32 and 34 already on the books.
Spending £13m less than the £40m demanded by Aston Villa for the in-form Jhon Duran [Evening Standard, 26 July], Fullkrug’s lack of impact due to injuries so far this season appears to be a damning indictment on the club’s approach.
The German, who picked up his current injury on international duty last month, has started just once for the Hammers, doing so in the EFL Cup and making three Premier League substitute appearances.
Michail Antonio may have returned to form against Ipswich Town last time out, but he is far from the long-term option up front as Lopetegui looks to get his new-look Irons side back into Europe.
Sadly for the Spaniard, Fullkrug doesn’t seem to be that long-term option either, and the longer he remains out with injury, the more fans will be wishing that the club’s £27m fee had gone elsewhere.
In other West Ham news, Julen Lopetegui played a key role in keeping one up-and-coming Irons star at the club in the summer.
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