West Ham Injury Update: Cresswell On Track & Others
West Ham have suffered the worst start to the Premier League in terms of injuries that I can remember. We top the league in terms of injuries and they’re not short term either. We take a look at the players currently sitting in the medical room
Defenders
RENTON, WA – JULY 03: Mark Noble looks on as Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United F.C. stretches during a training session at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, the headquarters and practice facility of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks July 3, 2016 in Renton, Washington. West Ham United F.C. is in Seattle to play play a friendly match with the Seattle Sounders July 5, 2016. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/West Ham United via Getty Images)
Aaron Cresswell
Cresswell was one of the biggest worries when he went down in a pre-season match. After not missing a match since his signing we were now going to be without him for months. Thankfully Masuaku has done well since joining from Olympiakos this summer.
However I’m still concerned about him coming back, because he was so good for us in previous years. Like any modern left back he is a great attacking option and has scored some great goals for us. But I still think he has the edge on Masuaku defensively.
He is reportedly progressing well, and is on schedule with his original recovery period. There is unlikely to be much in the way of coming back early, due to the seriousness of the injury. Plus the fact we now have an able replacement means no rushing back for the sake of it.
“I’m on the right track,” Cresswell told the club website. “The main thing is that the knee is healing properly and that I don’t rush back and have to start again. I can’t cut corners and I’m working with the physio.”
Winston Reid
Reid is one of the recent additions, after a nasty elbow to the face. A facial injury is unlikely to keep him out too long although he can count himself lucky it wasn’t a broken cheekbone or something similar when you see the venom that Aguero puts into the swing.
Want your voice heard? Join the Green Street Hammers team!
He’s got a chance of playing on Saturday against Watford, but with two other fit centre backs Bilic may rest him.
Midfield
STRATFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 04: Sofiane Feghouli of West Ham United scores his sides third goal during the UEFA Europa League Qualification round match between West Ham United and NK Domzale at London Stadium on August 4, 2016 in Stratford, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Andre Ayew
West Ham’s record signing curse struck again with Ayew after the Ghanaian went down only minutes after his start against Chelsea, with the club announcing that he would be out for up to four months with a thigh injury.
It was a huge blow to Bilic’s plans and judging by the reaction from Ghana, it was a blow to them too:
The Ghana squad paid tribute to star-man Andre Ayew with "Get Well Soon" t-shirts after qualifying for the AFCON. pic.twitter.com/ZDuJHQLYIP
— West Ham News (@WHUFC_News) September 4, 2016
More from Green Street Hammers - West Ham
The Ghanaian FA said they could heal the injury in two weeks with herbal methods. The club have decided not to take them up on such an offer, and he is still in East London. He is expected to be back for the December rush of fixtures. Just in time to go off to AFCON. Yay.
Sofiane Feghouli
The Algerian midfielder was a weird injury case. After a bright pre-season after his free transfer from Valencia there was a lot of hope. However he was not in the squad for the first Premier League game and no detail was given.
It’s only thanks to club ITK sources such as ExWhuEmployee that we had any idea what was going on. Feghouli has been suffering from Hamstring issues but is expected to be back for this weekends game. That is despite limping out of training yesterday:
Feghouli limping off in training today. pic.twitter.com/IJsaccU183
— West Ham Central (@WestHam_Central) September 6, 2016
Havard Nordtveit
Another minor injury, but one that causes it all to add up. Thankfully central midfield is an area we are not short of players in. Nordtveit picked up a foot injury in the last Europa match, and is unlikely to play this weekend.
With the amount of cover we have and the fact we will play a max of two defensive midfielders against Watford, I would be impressed if he even made the bench as there is no point in rushing him back.
Strikers
GIURGIU, ROMANIA – AUGUST 18: Andy Carroll of West Ham United in action with FC Astra’s Florin Lovin during the UEFA Europa League Play-Off First Leg against FC Astra Giurgiu at Marin Anastasovici Stadium on August 18, 2016 in Giurgiu, Romania . (Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)
Sakho
Anyone go any idea what’s actually going on here? Despite his great start to life with us, when he was rumoured to be off to West Brom I was happy. I have absolutely no time for players who do not want to be here. All I’ve seen from him are snapchats when West Ham are on and he doesn’t seem bothered at all.
According to physioroom and Ben Dinnery he has a “Back Injury”. Unspecified injury and unspecified return date. Sounds like a case of a stroppy player who won’t play to me. But there must have been something wrong for him to fail his West Brom medical. Maybe there was an attitude test on it? That would make sense.
Andy Carroll
One name which is permanently saved under any injury update I do is Andy Carroll. He is one of those players who just picks up injuries even when fully fit and in great form. It must be highly infuriating for the manager, because he looked great in pre-season.
Carroll is unlikely to play any part this weekend, but he could be back next week. Given the signing of Zaza he will have to fight for his place, but the prospect of both of them up front? Thats a scary proposition for any defender.
I hope we can get more than 25 games out of him this season, because he’s a real handful. Many other teams would rather face a more well rounded striker than someone like Carroll, who is simply unplayable in the air when the ball is right and he’s on form.
This article originally appeared on 
