Keiber Lamadrid ‘surprised’ West Ham and Crysencio Summerville’s injury is his chance

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Keiber Lamadrid was allegedly always supposed to be a first-team signing at West Ham United. Crysencio Summerville’s unfortunate injury, then, may be the sliding doors moment he needs.

On the downside, Hammers News have been informed that Summerville will miss Saturday’s clash with Manchester City, plus the meeting with Aston Villa the following weekend.

Looking at things from a more glass half full perspective, his absence is likely to be eaten up by the two-week international break. Should all go as planned – West Ham United’s number seven has picked up a calf injury on the ‘minor’ end of the scale – Crysencio Summerville will be back for the FA Cup quarter-final with Leeds, not to mention the proverbial six-pointer against Wolves on April 10.

His absence, meanwhile, could be the opportunity January signing Keiber Lamadrid is waiting for.

Now, Adama Traore is the obvious Summerville replacement on the left side. Traore impressed against Brentford on Monday, his most effective performance yet.

But, contrary to popular belief, Keiber Lamadrid was signed for Nuno’s first team rather than Greg Lincoln’s reserves, even if the Venezuela whizzkid scored on his Under-21 debut a few weeks back.

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Keiber Lamadrid will hope to get minutes in Crysencio Summerville’s absence

Opportunities to catch the eye have been extremely limited, though, due to Summerville’s electrifying form on the left-hand side. Lamadrid showed glimpses of potential in the FA Cup fourth-round meeting with Burton Albion on that flank, but that is his only outing so far on Nuno’s watch.

Now, heading into the business end of both the league and the cup campaign, Summerville’s brief absence may be Lamadrid’s second and also last chance to really make an impression.

While Traore seems likely to start against Man City and Villa, Lamadrid should at least get the chance to follow up his maiden appearance in a Premier League matchday squad during the 1-0 win at Fulham last week.

Lamadrid’s agent said he was signed to be a first-team option

Hammers News were told that Lamadrid was seen as a ‘lottery ticket’ signing. Low risk, potentially high rewards. He is only on loan in East London from Deportivo la Guaira, but West Ham have the option to turn that into a permanent transfer for around £1 million.

Such is the nature of the price-tag, the Hammers may end up taking a permanent punt on Lamadrid even if he ends the season with a single first-team outing to his name.

“I want to be clear; He is signed directly for the first team. It is a six-month loan. He is not here for the second-team,” Karim Assafo, Lamadrid’s agent, said on the Fernando Petrocelli y la Ruta Vinotinto YouTube channel in January.

“Regarding the rumours about him playing for the Under-21 team, I don’t know who invented that. In the club, throughout the entire negotiation, they never mentioned that to me. He is here for the first team. Whether he plays or gets called up immediately is a different story.”

According to Alexis Jordan, a youth development head at Deportivo la Guaira, Lamadrid ‘surprised’ the West Ham coaching staff. Jordan believes that the 22-year-old is likely to secure himself a full-time deal, even if he doesn’t feature for the senior side again this term.

“The West Ham fitness coaches are already in contact with ours. They are pleasantly surprised by his physical balance and his test results,” Jordan said.

“They will [develop] him slowly. With [clubs in] England playing three or four different cups, he will get his chance. Whether they exercise the buy option in six months or loan him elsewhere, his growth will be exponential.”

A full pre-season, plus a few early Carabao Cup matches in 2026/27, is likely to be the moment when Lamadrid really starts to shine. For now, though, Summerville’s injury provides a glimmer of an opportunity he will be determined to grasp.