Nuno Espirito Santo has confirmed Niclas Fullkrug will be out for “some time” with a thigh injury.
In an interview with DAZN Portugal on Thursday, Nuno confirmed West Ham fans’ worst fears after Fullkrug had pulled out of selection for the German national team, having suffered a thigh injury whilst training with West Ham.
Fullkrug, who is yet to score for the Hammers this season, has struggled to stay fit this term and also suffered a calf injury on international duty in September.
Nuno started Fullkrug in each of his first two games as the east Londoners’ head coach, but the Portuguese will now look to Callum Wilson, who has struggled with his own fitness problems, and 20-year-old academy graduate Callum Marshall to lead the line against Brentford.
“(Fullkrug) will be out for some time,” Nuno said. “For this specific position, we have Callum Wilson. We also have a young kid [Marshall], who already came on in the last game.
“But we will have to find solutions as a team. [A solution to Fullkrug’s injury] will have to be found.”
Fullkrug endured an injury-hit debut campaign at West Ham, following his £27million move from Borussia Dortmund last summer, and his fitness problems appear to show no signs of letting up.
The 32-year-old’s absence could, though, present an opportunity for Marshall, who made his Premier League debut off the bench during West Ham’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal.
Marshall has impressed Nuno in training, and it was a huge show of faith from the West Ham boss to bring him on ahead of Wilson, the club’s striker to score a goal this season, with his side chasing the game.
Nuno admitted after the game that Marshall was competing for minutes with Fullkrug and Wilson, and the former’s injury has now left him with a decision to make ahead of his first home game in charge of West Ham.
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