Sport nationJulen Lopetegui Confirms Niclas Fullkrug’s Absence for West Ham’s Tottenham Clash
West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui has confirmed that striker Niclas Fullkrug will miss Saturday’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur due to injury.
Fullkrug, who joined West Ham from Borussia Dortmund for £27million in the summer, has been sidelined for five games with a calf and Achilles injury sustained while on international duty with Germany in September.
Lopetegui provided an update on Fullkrug’s status during his pre-match press conference, stating:
“Fullkrug is out… He initially thought he had one non-important injury, but he has had complications, and we are waiting to recover him.”
The West Ham boss was unable to provide a timeline for Fullkrug’s return, saying:
“We thought he would be out for a maximum of two weeks, but right now he is out, and I don’t say anything about how long he will be out. We will see.”
Fullkrug’s absence is a significant blow for West Ham, who are seeking to build momentum after their 4-1 win over Ipswich. The German striker has yet to score for the Hammers but impressed for Dortmund in their Champions League run and scored for Germany at Euro 2024.
Former goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer praised Fullkrug as his most exciting Premier League summer signing, describing him as “a top-class player” who fits West Ham’s mold.
West Ham will face Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, with both teams looking to improve their early-season form. Lopetegui’s side currently sits 12th in the table, while Tottenham has struggled with consistency.
The Hammers will need to find alternative attacking options to compensate for Fullkrug’s absence. Lopetegui will rely on other players to step up and deliver against Tottenham.
Sport nation
Amina Umar