Evening Standard
·13 October 2025
West Ham suffer major new injury blow as Nuno Espirito Santo faces key problem

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Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·13 October 2025
Yet another problem for the Hammers as new boss tries to steer them away from relegation zone
West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug is facing another spell on the sidelines after sustaining an injury before the international break.
Fullkrug was due to be called up by Germany for World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland, but was ruled out after tearing his thigh while training with the Hammers.
The 32-year-old, who injured his calf while away on international duty in September, has struggled to stay fit since signing for West Ham from Borussia Dortmund in a £27million deal last summer.
A combination of Achilles and hamstring injuries kept Fullkrug out for 167 days last season, with the veteran forward starting just six Premier League games.
This latest injury comes as a blow for new West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, who only has two senior strikers to pick from in Fullkrug’s absence - 33-year-old Callum Wilson and academy graduate Callum Marshall, who made his Premier League debut away to Arsenal before the international break.
Wilson is the only West Ham striker to score this season, but he too has struggled for fitness, with Nuno opting to bring Marshall on ahead of him at the Emirates Stadium.
West Ham were comfortably beaten by Arsenal, underlining the extent of the issues that face Nuno after taking over from Graham Potter.
Setback: Niclas Fullkrug has struggled to stay fit since joining West Ham last summer
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Precious time on the training ground over the international break has given the Portuguese some space to bed in his ideas after a hectic start to life in east London.
However, results need to change quickly, with West Ham rooted in the relegation zone following their joint-worst-ever start to a Premier League season.
A boycott, in protest against the club’s board, is expected ahead of Nuno’s first home game in charge against Brentford next Monday, with the Hammers yet to pick up a point at the London Stadium this season.
With problems continuing to mount for West Ham, Nuno desperately needs three points to kick-start a new era at the club.