Fullkrug injury decision must wait until Friday – Lopetegui

Niclas Fullkrug’s availability for Fulham vs West Ham will be decided by an examination of the striker’s Achilles tendon injury on Friday, manager Julen Lopetegui has said.

Lopetegui called Fullkrug’s issue, which the £27 million signing sustained while on Uefa Nations League duty with Germany, a “little problem” and a “pity” ahead of the Premier League match at Craven Cottage on Saturday (3pm BST).

“Yesterday we thought he was a little bit better,” Lopetegui said on Thursday. “Today we’re going to see how he is exactly and tomorrow we are going to make the final decision about him.”

“Tomorrow we will take the last decision about him [Fullkrug]” 🏥

Julen Lopetegui provides an update regarding the fitness of his squad ahead of West Ham’s Premier League fixture against Fulham ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/anGOlzs3rJ

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 12, 2024

Fullkrug injury

Fullkrug joined the Hammers from Borussia Dortmund on a four-year deal on August 5 and has played a total of 63 minutes from the bench in his new club’s opening three Premier League matches.

The injury kept the 31-year-old, who scored 14 times in 46 club appearances last season and twice at Euro 2024, out of Germany’s 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Tuesday.

Midfielder Carlos Soler could make his West Ham debut at Fulham after joining on a season-long loan from Paris St-Germain.

“First of all, he’s one good player,” Lopetegiu said of the 27-year-old former Spain international. He can help in different positions [and is] a good age.

“He is an experienced player despite being young. He can help us because he can play in different positions. We worked with him over these last two weeks, because he was without a normal pre-season. Right now it’s one player more and, for sure,  he will help us.”

Lopetegui looks back on a successful transfer window and touches on the quality in our Academy 🗣️#TalkingPoint with @LycamobileUK 📞 pic.twitter.com/w6cFEeVQam

— West Ham United (@WestHam) September 12, 2024

West Ham transfers

West Ham were the 10th-highest spenders in the Premier League during the summer transfer window, bringing in five players for fees.

Centre-back Max Kilman was their most expensive signing, joining for £40m from Wolves as part of an overall West Ham outlay of £121m.

“The market is closed – we did the best we can,” said Lopetegui. “We tried to improve the squad in the different positions. Now we don’t talk about the market and focus on the everyday work and the players that are, at the moment, in our squad.”

West Ham have three points out of nine after losing at home to Aston Villa and Manchester City either side of a win at Crystal Palace.