Things were going so well in Graham Potter’s first game as West Ham boss until a sudden double injury blow changed everything.
West Ham fans could not believe what they were seeing on Graham Potter’s Hammers debut.
Phones and social media were buzzing with claims of ‘we’ve got our West Ham back’ as Potter made an instant impact on the approach, style and performance levels.
West Ham were brilliant and scored an excellent goal as they put in one of their best first half performances in over a year.
But this is West Ham United.
And adversity is always just around the corner.
So it proved when striker Niclas Fullkrug – having another impressive game leading the West Ham line – went down screaming in agony as he sprinted during a counter attack.
Fullkrug had played a key role in setting up West Ham’s goal.
He expertly cushioned a header from a lofted ball on the halfway line to allow Mohammed Kudus to put Crysencio Summerville in behind.
The brilliant Dutch winger, who was the best player on the pitch, beat former Hammers target Ian Maatsen to play the ball across for Lucas Paqueta to coolly finish in the bottom corner.
It was a lovely, exciting move.
But two of the key players involved would not last much longer.
West Ham respond to disaster with injury and transfer update
Fullkrug, who has a long history of serious injuries including a three-month lay-off on joining the Hammers, went off hobbling and visibly distressed with what looks a serious hamstring injury.
Summerville was also feeling his hamstring area but played on until half-time.
The 22-year-old winger did not reappear for the second half.
It took the wind out of West Ham’s sails and handed the impetus to Villa, who turned things around with their greater squad depth.
With Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen, Jean-Clair Todibo and Emerson Palmieri already out, losing Fullkrug and Summerville was the last thing new boss Potter needed.
Especially with a big winnable Premier League London derby double header coming up at home in the next week.
The situation piles the pressure on West Ham majority owner David Sullivan to bring a striker and possibly a defender in for his new manager.
Now West Ham have responded to the double disaster with a major injury and January transfer window update.
Hammers wait on Fullkrug and Summerville scan results
Hammers News reached out to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners about the situation last night.
The senior London Stadium contact revealed the latest on the Fullkrug and Summerville injuries, made a big transfer admission and gave his verdict on Potter’s first performance.
“Sadly no,” the West Ham spokesman told Hammers News when asked whether anything was remotely close in terms of signing a striker.
“To lose Antonio, Bowen and now Fullkrug in a few weeks really is bad luck.
“We looked OK until Fullkrug and Summerville went off.
“Fullkrug looks like a bad hamstring, Summerville a lesser one, though we won’t know until we scan them on Saturday.
“The manager had just been concentrating on the Villa game, then we’ll look at targets with him.”
West Ham need signings in three key areas
West Ham arguably need a player in every area of the pitch.
A central defender is emerging as a priority with Todibo’s ongoing injury issues.
Max Kilman only seems to play well alongside a more dominant partner.
And Konstantinos Mavropanos does not seem capable of completing 90 minutes without making rash decisions and mistakes.
A powerful, dynamic central midfielder and striker are also sorely needed.
Whether the Hammers have the funds to do that in January is unlikely.
So the club will undoubtedly look to the loan market with options or obligations to buy.
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