OPINION
There’s never a good time to get injured, but for a player to suffer a major ligament injury in the build up to a World Cup must be absolutely devastating.
Manuel Lanzini did just that last year and has been battling ever since to make his way back to fitness to play some role in the West Ham’s Premier League campaign.
His hard work and diligence was initially rewarded with a return to action well ahead of schedule, and has been further acknowledged with a recall to the Argentina squad, as announced on Twitter.
#SelecciónMayor Ésta es la lista de futbolistas convocados por el entrenador Lionel Scaloni para los próximos amistosos de la @Argentina. pic.twitter.com/a16vUSMQSJ
— ?? Selección Argentina ??? (@Argentina) March 7, 2019
On a personal level it is a massive achievement for the playmaker, who has exhibited a huge amount of mental fortitude as well as physical determination, but from a club perspective, it could hint at much larger, and worrying, things.
It is great to have Lanzini back, and the natural creativity that he exudes has already been appreciated in the relatively short time that he has been back in the claret and blue.
For him to immediately earn a recall to the national side, however, would suggest that he is an integral player for the South Americans, the kind of player who fans wait for with baited breath during his spell on the sidelines.
Ultimately it shows that Lanzini is a truly top class talent, and would also suggest that he has the potential to go on to much bigger and better things than challenging for a Europa League spot.
They’ve missed him, but now he’s back, the concern will be that the Hammers could one day lose him for good.