- Niclas Fullkrug limped off just 15 minutes into Potter’s first game in charge
- He joins Bowen on sidelines with Crysencio Summerville also an injury doubt
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! Why Manchester United may have to sell Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho
Graham Potter insists panic buying a striker will not solve West Ham’s problems after Niclas Fullkrug was ruled out for months with a hamstring injury.
Fullkrug limped off just 15 minutes into Potter’s first game in charge, the FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa, while winger Crysencio Summerville also picked up a knock that is likely to rule him out of tomorrow night’s Premier League game against Fulham.
The German joins top scorer Jarrod Bowen on the side lines with the Hammers skipper ruled out with a broken foot.
‘It’s fair to say it’s a significant one,’ said Potter of Fullkrug. ‘When a player pulls up like that you know something fairly serious has happened.
‘It’s still early in terms of full diagnosis but nevertheless a significant one, a number of weeks. Months? A number of weeks probably adds up to months, yes. So yeah, I would say that.
‘Crysencio felt something after about 35 minutes and finished the first half, but probably not at 100 per cent. It’s touch and go but probably erring towards the negative at the moment, but we’ll see.’
Graham Potter insists panic buying a striker will not solve West Ham’s problems
Summer signing Niclas Fullkrug has been ruled out for months with a hamstring injury
The German joins Jarrod Bowen on the sidelines after he fractured his foot against Liverpool
It’s left West Ham in the market for a striker in January with Michail Antonio set for a long spell on the sidelines after his car crash and Danny Ings the club’s only fit striker.
The club have been linked with Brighton’s Evan Ferguson and Middlesbrough front man Emmanuel Latte Lath.
West Ham are interested in out-of-favour Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford but Mail Sport understands the club know a move would be near-impossible to get done.
Potter insists he does not want the club signing a striker for the sake of it.
‘I wouldn’t say it’s imperative [to sign a striker],’ said Potter. ‘Obviously with the situation with Mick as well, there’s certainly a logical rationale to do something, but again it’s not quite as simple as that.
‘I wouldn’t want to make the wrong decision or do something for the sake of it just because there’s a need, especially in this window which is very complicated.
‘We’ve got some attacking options so my focus at the moment is on the team and on how to get the team to function as well as possible, with a view to being competitive and trying to win against Fulham.’
Potter is likely to turn to Ings against Fulham, though admitted he has the option of playing Mohammed Kudus or Lucas Paqueta as a makeshift striker against Marco Silva’s side.
West Ham are interested in out-of-favour Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford
Mohammed Kudus or Lucas Paqueta could play as makeshift strikers against Fulham
‘I think sometimes in these situations you have to be creative, you have to look at the attacking players you have and what their attributes are and use them accordingly,’ added Potter.
‘Mo’s got the capability to do that, it’s an option for us. We’ve got other options, Lucas can play there. He won’t be the traditional centre forward but it’s certainly an attacking option with high quality.
‘Danny has always been an important player in my eyes. He’ll step up, he had a big game against Aston Villa coming in and playing as long as he did. So, there’s lots of things to consider in terms of selection for Tuesday.’
