West Ham playmaker Manuel Lanzini is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a serious knee injury and could return before the end of the season, according to club insiders Claret and Hugh.
The Hammers news site, which is a reliable source for exclusive club information, report that the early signs on Lanzini’s recovery are positive after initial fears he could miss the whole season.
Claret and Hugh claim that the Argentine is thought to be ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation after undergoing surgery by a specialist in Barcelona following the injury, which he suffered on international duty with Argentina before the World Cup.
OPINION
This is brilliant news for everyone involved with West Ham, and obviously for Lanzini himself. The Argentine’s injury, which saw him badly damage a cruciate ligament in his knee, was expected to put him out for the entirety of the 2018/19 season. Lanzini had however previously said he hoped to be back after Christmas, and while that still seems a tad unrealistic, these early signs suggest that he could have a part to play in the Hammers’ season yet. His loss has been a hard one for new manager Manuel Pellegrini, who struggled to replace his creativity through the middle this summer, and the Chilean will no doubt be eager for Lanzini to return as soon as possible. The key here will however be to not rush Lanzini back, with such a serious injury sure to take a toll in the long run. Hopefully these early signs are correct and Lanzini can return to play a part for the Irons as they look for a top-half finish this term.