West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini is awaiting further news about the duration of injuries sustained by Lukasz Fabianski and Winston Reid.
Speaking at his press conference prior to Saturday’s Premier League visit of Crystal Palace, Pellegrini mentioned a decision is outstanding on potential surgery for Fabianski.
Last season’s Hammer of the Year left the field after pulling up during last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, and Pellegrini is expecting the goalkeeper to be out of action for around three months either way.
“About Lukasz, the medical staff will decide probably today or tomorrow if he will have surgery on his muscle, or if he will recover without surgery,” said the manager.
“I think in both cases less than three months will be long enough for Lukasz to recover.”
We need to be calm and patient with him [Winston Reid]... as soon as he’s able to play with the first team, he’ll be involved.
Manuel Pellegrini
Pellegrini also offered additional information regarding the recovery of New Zealand defender Reid, who last saw Premier League action 17 months ago before sustaining a serious knee injury.
The centre-back featured in pre-season action, but Pellegrini today spoke of the need to remain patient as Reid’s rehabilitation looks set to continue in the U23 side.
“The problem with Winston is that, two or three times before when he was ready to start, he had another muscle injury,” Pellegrini mentioned.
“We need to be calm and patient with him. He will start playing with the U23s and, as soon as he’s able to play with the first team, he’ll be involved also.”
The manager also offered updates regarding creative midfielders Manuel Lanzini – who recovered from a foot injury to come off the bench at the Vitality Stadium – and Jack Wilshere.
“Manuel Lanzini recovered from his injury [last week], so he doesn’t have any problems,” Pellegrini confirmed.
“Jack is okay. He stopped [playing] just one day because he felt something in his muscle, but he has worked a full week with us.”
One player who has made a significant impact since recovering from a long-term layoff is Ukrainian forward Andriy Yarmolenko.
The winger has netted the first goal in the Hammers’ last two Premier League games – against Manchester United and Bournemouth – adding to his memorable strike against Norwich at London Stadium earlier this season.
The Ukrainian was ruled out of much of his maiden campaign in Claret and Blue, but is now consistently demonstrating the kind of form that persuaded West Ham to bring him to east London, according to Pellegrini.
“He’s playing in the way that we expected when we brought him here,” the manager said.
“Unfortunately for him last season, he was also playing very well against big teams, like against Chelsea and Manchester United he played very good games, and he had that injury.
“Now he’s returning, and he’s returning in the way we know he’s able to play. I think that he’s the second striker for Ukraine now also, and he’s used to scoring goals, and always making good passes.”
