Julen Lopetegui absolutely fuming as Niclas Fullkrug injury update emerges at West Ham United
West Ham are set to join the growing list of clubs turning their backs on the international break as new injuries begin to emerge.
Julen Lopetegui has started his tenure at the London Stadium rather positively, overcoming Crystal Palace in the Premier League before defeating Bournemouth in the EFL Cup.
While those two victories are sandwiched by losses to Aston Villa and Manchester City, few fans expected any positive results from those two games, but the early signs have been promising.
Despite the 3-1 defeat to Pep Guardiola’s side, at the hands of Erling Haaland, the Hammers went toe-to-toe with the current Premier League champions, so expectations have risen already.
Lopetegui’s team looked to be getting into a groove before the international break, but the manager will now be fuming after Niclas Fullkrug sustained an injury with the Germany national team.
The 31-year-old was spotted dropping out of training after just 15 minutes with what is thought to be an Achilles and calf problem [Kerry Hau, 9 September], with the striker now set to return to London for treatment [Sean Whetstone].
West Ham United suffer Niclas Fullkrug injury
While the German striker has not yet made his first Premier League start, coming on as a substitute in all three matches, it is clear that Lopetegui was slowly edging him into the set-up.
Of course, it was positive to see him get on the scoresheet, opening the scoring during a 5-0 romping of Hungary, but the Hammers are now left to pick up the pieces of his new injury.
There is often a strained relationship between clubs and national teams, and this situation will certainly do nothing to help.
Although Michail Antonio has been utilised, he is prone to injury, while Danny Ings has failed to get a look-in yet. There is no doubt that Fullkrug is the best striker option out of the three.
However, Lopetegui will now need to wait longer to utilise him in a starting role, which will leave the Spaniard fuming after another international break stalled the new Premier League season.
In other West Ham news, a free transfer is now “5% likely” after a new update at the London Stadium.
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