West Ham United’s official site appears to have dropped a big hint over Maxwel Cornet’s return ahead of the Newcastle clash.
There was relief a week or so ago when Cornet posted a video showing what appeared to be the West Ham star doing advanced rehabilitation work after his rare calf issue.
The case of Cornet is somewhat typical of West Ham’s rotten luck with new signings and injuries.
Striker signing Danny Ings getting injured less than 24 hours after being unveiled by the club being the latest example of that “West Ham curse”.
When West Ham’s £17.5m summer signing Cornet was forced off just 35 minutes into his first Premier League start under Moyes at the beginning of October with a calf injury, it was expected he would be back in a week or two.
But here we are over four months on – ahead of a crucial game against Newcastle United – and he has been out ever since.
And how West Ham could do with a player like Cornet against Eddie Howe’s Magpies side who have their eyes firmly fixed on a place in the Champions League.
Well it seems Hammers fans may not have to wait too much longer.
Cornet returned to West Ham training this week ahead of the trip to Newcastle. But David Moyes admitted he did not know what kind of condition the Ivory Coast winger would be in.
It seems highly unlikely that Cornet would suddenly be available for the game at Newcastle. But stranger things have happened.
And if he has been keeping himself fit – as he looks to have been doing from the video he posted on social media – then it gives hope that he will get back up to speed quickly.
Moyes had suggested it could be another two weeks until Cornet is ready for game action depending on his condition on his return to training.
But now the West Ham official site appears to have dropped a big hint over a Cornet return ahead of Newcastle clash.
In a preview to the game on West Ham’s website, the team news section drops a tantalising hint which – at the very least – suggests Cornet is not too far away even if Newcastle might come too soon.
“Maxwel Cornet, who has been out of action since October with a calf issue, is edging closer to a return,” West Ham’s website states.
Even if he is fit enough for a place on the bench it would give West Ham a big boost.
Cornet is a lively and well-liked character in the dressing room. And he could be a game-changer for West Ham’s season with his pace, powerful running and energy in a side seriously lacking all those things.
Here’s a reminder of what Moyes said about Cornet before his return to training this week:
“Cornet has been back in France seeing the specialist for probably three or four weeks now and we’re hoping to have him back here on Monday and we’ll see where he is come Monday,” Moyes said in his pre-Derby press conference.
“It would be great (if he is ready to return to full training) but I don’t know if he’s going to walk in the building, get his gear on and go out and train right away. I’m not sure, to be honest, but the fact of the matter is we’re hoping he’s going to be very close to that.
“But even then, I probably need a couple of weeks’ training before we’re even getting close, so that’s the problem with it.”
It feels like we are going to be seeing Cornet back in the claret and blue very soon. Fingers crossed that’s the case.