OPINION
West Ham have been without Fabian Balbuena for some time now following a knee injury, but the Hammers could have the defender back for their clash with Fulham on Friday night.
According to Football.London, the Paraguayan international could make his return at the London Stadium in the Premier League match, and that could spell bad news for Angelo Ogbonna.
The Italian has been deputising alongside Issa Diop in the heart of defence, and has looked like an altogether less reliable option.
The Hammers have endured a torrid run of form lately, and while that is not entirely the fault of Ogbonna, it is no coincidence that the side’s defence has looked a lot more penetrable since he was brought into the side.
As such, Fulham could prove to be the last chance saloon for the 30-year-old.
Manuel Pellegrini is a pragmatic manager with a level head, and it’s not unfair to assume that a decent performance from Ogbonna could persuade him to give him another shot at the back, but given how successful the Diop Balbuena partnership was prior to the latter’s injury, it’s probably fair to suggest that the Paraguayan is a shoe in for a return to the side when he is deemed 100% ready to start.
And if he got back in, it’s difficult to see how he could be ousted again.
Ogbonna has been a loyal servant to the club for some time now, but there’s no getting away from the fact that he is operating on borrowed time.