West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini has said that defender Fabian Balbuena could return next week after a long-term injury.
The summer signing has suffered with a knee injury since the end of last year, when he had to undergo knee surgery as part of his recovery.
However, despite being out-of-action for the Hammers for the last two months – with Angelo Ogbonna taking his place – the 27-year-old could be back in action next week.
“Of course, not only [Manuel] Lanzini but [Marko] Arnautovic is getting fit again and [Samir] Nasri will be very important. Next week Fabian Balbuena could be back again, so of course I never complained when we didn’t have the results but it’s very difficult to play with 8/9 injured players,” Pellegrini said, as quoted by reliable journalist Ben Dinnery on his personal Twitter account.
“Of course, not only Lanzini but Arnautovic is getting fit again and Nasri will be very important. Next week Fabian Balbuena could be back again, so of course I never complained when we didn’t have the results but it’s very difficult to play with 8/9 injured players.” #WHUFC ? pic.twitter.com/KbydA7W9lz
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) February 23, 2019
OPINION
The return of Balbuena will no doubt be a welcome one for Pellegrini after the number of injuries he has had to his team in recent months. He was terrific at the start of the season and he forged a really good partnership with fellow summer signing Issa Diop, but unfortunately that came to an abrupt end a few months ago. Ogbonna has been taking his place in recent matches, and it is safe to say that many West Ham fans were fearing the worst after he submitted some woeful displays to begin with. However, recently he has started to find his form again, with the latest performance coming against Fulham on Friday. Now that he is on form again, it remains to be seen just who Pellegrini will pick to partner Diop in the centre of defence. Balbuena will not come straight back into the team, and for good reason.