West Ham 'exceptional' loan star to leave EFL club and return to Hammers after devastating injury blow

West Ham defender Michael Forbes was once hailed an 'exceptional' talent in the club's academy but the 20-year-old is enduring an injury-ridden season as he tries to make the step up to first team football.

The Northern Ireland international joined League One side Bristol Rovers on loan last July but made just 12 appearances for the club before being recalled at the start of January. That premature return to London came after Forbes picked up a hamstring injury against Wrexham in December.

As the defender 'approached full fitness', he was sent out on loan again by West Ham at the end of January, this time to League Two and Colchester United. Forbes was yet to make an appearance for the club but his injury woes are now believed to keep him out for the rest of the season in a devastating blow for the player.

Hammers loan star suffers injury blow

That's according to ExWHUEmployee, which claims that the hamstring is now 'ruptured' and will require months of rehabilitation. A report said: “We can confirm the sad news that Northern Irish academy defender Michael Forbes has ripped his hamstring and is now out for the season it is thought. The centre-back was due to join Essex side Colchester United on loan for the remainder of the season. This move will now be cancelled (unless he recovers sooner than expected) unfortunately and he will continue his rehabilitation with West Ham.”

Colchester United are yet to confirm the news but had announced the arrival of Forbes in January. A club statement said: "Colchester United have signed Michael Forbes on loan from West Ham. The Northern Irish international will remain in north Essex for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.

"He joined the Hammers at sixteen after playing his schoolboy football in his native Ireland, and has made appearances in all the age groups for his country. In November 2023, he made his senior debut for Northern Ireland in a UEFA Qualifying game in Finland.

"The twenty year old spent the first half of this season on loan at League One side Bristol Rovers, returning in mid-December through injury. Michael will wear the number twenty four shirt for the U's."

Colchester United sit 12th in League Two after 30 outings this term. The U's are unbeaten in their last six under Danny Cowley.

West Ham defender hailed as ‘exceptional’ at 17

Forbes is yet to make his first team debut for West Ham but has racked up appearances for the under-18 and under-21 sides. In 2022, when the defender was just 17 years old, West Ham under-23s manager Mark Robson predicted big things for the player.

As the defender made the step up to under-23 level, Robson said: “Michael has come in a few times for us and he has done exceptionally well. He didn’t get too many minutes in this game. But he was calm and comfortable on the ball, which was really pleasing.”

In other news, West Ham are in 'pole position' to sign a 24-goal striker on a 'bargain' transfer.