West Ham fans who hoped to see Niclas Fullkrug on the bench for today’s game against Nottingham Forest are set for disappointment.
The German striker returned to the UK in time to watch the Irons beat Manchester United last weekend following treatment for his injury. Fans had hoped his return signalled the start of a recovery process, allowing him to begin training with his Hammers teammates in preparation for a gradual return to first-team action.
However, concerns have arisen that Fullkrug has since returned to Germany, as he recently appeared on a popular German gameshow during prime-time TV. While it’s unclear if the show was pre-recorded during his initial stay in Bavaria, the optics are less than ideal, with Fullkrug appearing on podcasts and TV shows while he remains sidelined from West Ham.
Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui is reportedly urging the club to secure a new striker in January, seemingly losing patience with the £27 million summer signing from Dortmund.
