“I can’t wait to get out on the pitch with my new team-mates,” said Niclas Fullkrug upon signing for West Ham in August.
Unfortunately, the 31-year-old German striker has had to do a lot of waiting.
A Champions League finalist with Borussia Dortmund and twice a goalscorer at Euro 2024, Fullkrug was one of the most eye-catching signings in the Premier League over the summer.
That is why his prolonged Achilles tendon injury has been so frustrating.
Niclas Fullkrug has played just 63 minutes in the Premier League this season
West Ham could do with having Fullkrug available amid a tricky spell under new manager Julen Lopetegui, and the player himself is understood to have been left knocked by how little he has been involved in the first three months of the season.
The Hammers are still unsure when their £27million man will be back.
He continues to work to an individualised training programme, partly indoors and partly on the grass with West Ham medical team and physios during the international break.
After 63 minutes across three substitute appearances for the Hammers in their first three Premier League games and a start against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup in August, Fullkrug injured himself on Germany duty in September and returned to London early.
There was confidence in mid-September that his time out would be minimal.
He was expected to be named in Lopetegui’s squad for the Carabao Cup game at Liverpool on September 25 but, while he had come through training okay the previous day, Lopetegui felt the striker was not ready for match minutes and so he did not travel to Anfield.
Following the win over Ipswich on October 5, Fullkrug - who has suffered calf injuries in his career - wrote on social media: “Big win at home, can’t wait to be back.”
Soon after, though, Fullkrug’s recovery suffered what Lopetegui called a “complication”, and West Ham medical staff began to realise his Achilles tendon injury was not healing on its own and would need specialist treatment.
Fullkrug has now missed nine West Ham matches in a row, with 34-year-old Michail Antonio leading the line and 32-year-old Danny Ings appearing off the bench up front in his place.
West Ham medical staff began to realise Fullkrug’s Achilles tendon injury was not healing on its own
The West Ham medical team have sought alternative remedies from those usually used for such an injury, and Fullkrug has not trained with the team since early October.
Two weeks ago, he took a trip to Germany for an assessment from a specialist and, while he was back home, even made a guest appearance on German TV.
Since returning to London, Fullkrug has combined indoor training with some limited work out on the grass at Rush Green, working closely with West Ham physio as well as fitness coaches.
Particularly given the team’s poor run of results, West Ham medical staff are understood to be reluctant to put a timeframe on his return, given their initial estimations back in September proved to be inaccurate.
For Fullkrug and West Ham, the wait goes on.
