West Ham blow as in-form £28m star set to miss Fulham and Chelsea clashes

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui.West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui. | IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images
The Hammers could be without their big summer striker signing for the next couple weeks of Premier League action.

West Ham are set to be without £27.5 million summer signing Niclas Fullkrug for upcoming London derbies against Premier League rivals Fulham and Chelsea.

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The 31-year-old has been on international duty for Germany this week and featured in the nation's first match against Hungary. However, the player is now set to miss out against the Netherlands on Tuesday evening due to an injury picked up while representing his country.

Fullkrug sustained an Achilles tendon injury at the weekend. Germany boss Julian Naglesmann had admitted it was 'not yet clear whether he can play' against the Netherlands but an injury of that nature is likely to need weeks on the sidelines.

Hammers News claim that the striker is suffering from Achilles tendinitis rather than a torn Achilles, which is some relief for the club. If that is the case, the lay-off for the summer signing will only be weeks rather than months.

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The injury comes at a poor time for Fullkrug, who finally found his scoring boots when playing for Germany last week having not hit the net in his first four West Ham appearances. The talisman found form as he netted the first goal for Germany against Hungary, kickstarting a 5-0 romp.

West Ham travel to Craven Cottage this weekend to take on Marco Silva's Fulham side as Julen Lopetegui continues to looks for his second league win as Hammers boss. The Cottagers sit just one place and one point above West Ham in 12th.

Niclas Fullkrug joined West Ham this summer.Niclas Fullkrug joined West Ham this summer.
Niclas Fullkrug joined West Ham this summer. | Getty Images

Following that, West Ham welcome Chelsea to The London Stadium on Saturday 21 before a Carabao Cup trip to Anfield on September 25. Lopetegui will no doubt hope to have Fullkrug back and available for selection ASAP, with this visit to Brentford at the end of the month perhaps a reasonable target.

In the meantime, the new arrival's absence could provide forgotten West Ham man Danny Ings to step up to the plate amid reports of a potential renaissance under Lopetegui.

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