What does Xavi Simons’ ACL injury mean in the Premier League survival battle? West Ham United already two points clear of a Tottenham side who have just lost their mercurial, rapidly-improving playmaker.
Luckless Spurs will be without Simons, Dominic Solanke and Cristian Romero for the final four matchdays of the top-flight season.
They say you ‘make your own luck’, of course. And the fury directed towards Tottenham’s medical staff – did they really tell Xavi Simons to run off an ACL? – suggests that the Londoners are not merely the victims of bad fortune.
What would you say has been the biggest TURNING POINT in our season?
Our fate is now in our own hands…
Still, as Nuno Espirito Santo confirms that West Ham United have a clean bill of health ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brentford, the same most certainly cannot be said for the team two points below them.
Xavi Simons, a £60 million signing from RB Leipzig, saw his World Cup dreams go up in smoke when his ligament popped at Molineux. In theory, a boost for Crysencio Summerville’s hopes of avoiding the drop, and his hopes of featuring for the Netherlands across the Atlantic next month.
West Ham United’s Crysencio Summerville faces World Cup disappointment
Xavi Simons’ absence opened the door for Summerville, or so it was assumed.
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman now appears to have closed any metaphorical doors once again, even if there is still a crack in the window of opportunity for a winger who has enjoyed such an impressive 2026.
Speaking to ESPN, Koeman confirms that Simons will only be replaced by another ‘number ten’. As a left-winger, Summerville’s chances are therefore unaffected by his absence.
“The more injuries you get, the more other players come into the picture,” Koeman said while bringing up Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert as a more like-for-like replacement.
“We have to wait and see when Kluivert starts playing again [after an injury of his own]. We have enough options for the number ten position.”
What changes are you making to this team? Just don’t think Wilson should start 😬
Summerville’s competition was not Xavi Simons or Justin Kluivert, then, but Cody Gakpo and Noa Lang. Possibly Donyell Malen, too; the free-scoring Roma forward versatile enough to play all across the frontline.
Former Everton, Southampton and Barcelona coach Koeman planned to hand Summerville a first Netherlands call-up during the March international break. That was before he suffered a calf injury against tomorrow’s opponents Brentford in the FA Cup.
Koeman also confirmed that he views Summerville as a ‘squad player’ rather than a starter. But with Gakpo, Lang and Malen potentially still ahead of him, the 2026 World Cup could come too soon.
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