Nuno Espirito Santo already has a plan as West Ham player ‘out for a while’
Nuno Espirito Santo seemingly already has a natural solution for a fresh problem that hit West Ham over the international break.
West Ham will play Brentford on Monday in their return to Premier League action, with Nuno set for his London Stadium welcome.
It has been a tough start for the Portuguese boss, but Monday’s game will provide an opportunity to turn over a new leaf.
Brentford are the slight favourites against West Ham, but Keith Andrews’ side sit just three places above the Hammers in the table.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka could be dropped against Brentford, despite the right-back making his return to action against Arsenal before the break, but Nuno has a bigger problem to contend with.
Nuno Espirito Santo confirms fresh Niclas Fullkrug blow
Last week, Julian Nagelsmann announced that Niclas Fullkrug had torn a muscle in his thigh, in what is yet another injury blow for the German.
Extended periods on the treatment table had not been a rarity for the striker before his move to East London last summer, but they have been extremely common since.
| Niclas Fullkrug | Premier League 2025-26 |
| Appearances | 6 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Chances created | 6 |
| Touches in opposition box | 22 |
| Duels won | 19 |
After just three Premier League games last season, the 32-year-old had already been ruled out with a Achilles tendon problem – an issue which would rule him out for over two months.
Fullkrug would return for just seven fixtures before a hamstring injury would further sideline him for another two months.
The striker had hoped to have left his problems behind him this season, but Nuno has confirmed that the former Borussia Dortmund man is set for another extended absence.
“Fullkrug is injured and will be out for a while,” Nuno told DAZN Portugal on Thursday. Standard Sport have reported that West Ham are awaiting the results of a scan to determine the extent of the injury.
Nuno already has Fullkrug solution
In his interview on Thursday, Nuno added: “For this specific position, we have Callum Wilson. We also have a young kid (Callum Marshall), who already came on in the last game.
“But we will have to find solutions as a team. [A solution] will have to be found.“
Wilson had been the first option off the bench for Graham Potter this season, but, interestingly, it was Nuno who handed Marshall his first Premier League appearance this season.
However, these latest comments suggest that Wilson will be the answer for Nuno while fit and available, with Marshall providing back-up for the time being in Fullkrug’s latest absence.
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