West Ham United’s Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke has given an injury update on a host of the club’s sidelined stars on the official website, with the general consensus that most are making progress in their quest to return to fitness.
Both Aaron Creswell and Andre Ayew are expected to be on the sidelines for a number of months after serious knee and thigh injuries, but the Hammers medical man has stated that they are doing what they can be return.
“(They) are both progressing very well and have both been running this week as they continue their recoveries from a knee and thigh injury respectively,” he said.
Vandenbroucke also stated that Andy Carroll was not quite ready to return to the first-team fold, despite it being four weeks since he picked up his injury.
He also stated that Diafra Sakho is closing in on an increased work-load and was working hard on returning to bolster Slaven Bilic’s options in the final third.
“Andy Carroll had a good week, during which he has made good progress and is also running on the pitch,” Vandenbroucke said.
“It is four weeks since Andy was injured in the UEFA Europa League tie with Astra in Romania. He is working hard, but it will take time before he is ready to return to action.
“Diafra Sakho is also progressing. He has been running up and down the stairs at London Stadium and skipping as he continues to build up his fitness, and is now ready to take the next stage by increasing his training.”
It was expected that new signing Alvaro Arbeloa could make his debut for West Ham against West Brom but the game at The Hawthorns has come to soon for the Spanish defender according to Vandenbroucke.
“Alvaro Arbeloa is working very hard on the training pitch, having arrived with us in a good physical condition,” he said.
“If all goes to plan, he will be available to play some part in the EFL Cup against Accrington Stanley next week.”
