West Ham ace Angelo Ogbonna all but ruled out of Atalanta clash
West Ham have been dealt a major injury blow as Angelo Ogbonna is almost “certain to miss” the Hammers’ game against Atalanta, according to Claret & Hugh.
They claim that the former Italian international “damaged a hamstring” against Celtic and “there’s a real danger” that if they were to hurry Ogbonna back, he could aggravate the injury and miss the game against Newcastle United.
They also claim that the centre-back could be short of fitness for that Premier League opener against the Toon, but the club are “working hard” to make sure he can play some part at St James’ Park.
Ogbonna to miss the start of the season?
The fact that the 33-year-old is set to miss this final pre-season match against Atalanta means that you would have to think Ogbonna would be a doubt for that game against Newcastle.
He has not played for the Hammers since leaving the field against Celtic and could be well short of match fitness for a Premier League game.
Of course, the Hammers do have other options, but Ogbonna is arguably West Ham’s best centre-back and was described as West Ham’s “Hammer of the season” by Sam Delaney last season [U Irons podcast].
We will have to see how he copes next week, but even if he is fit for that game against Newcastle, we can’t see how he will be anywhere near ready to start at St James’ Park.
Hopefully, he has a good week in training and makes enough progress to be in the squad for the Premier League opener, but as it stands, the Hammers might have to do without Ogbonna for that Newcastle match.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have been turned down by one of their main transfer targets.
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