OPINION
Just when you thought that West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini could not handle any more injury blows, another one has just slapped him right in the face.
Right-back Ryan Fredericks – who came on in the second half of the 1-1 draw with Huddersfield – was hauled off the pitch in the closing stages after twisting his ankle, and a club insider has revealed just how bad the injury is.
“It looks bad and we shall be scanning later in the week. It really is a blow,” a senior source told Claret and Hugh.
If this news is anything to go by, Pellegrini must be sweating buckets – Andriy Yarmolenko and Carlos Sanchez have already been ruled out in the long-term, and now the manager has yet another injury to deal with.
However, what is more concerning is that first choice right-back Pablo Zabaleta looked incredibly tired when he left the field on Saturday – and at the moment, he is Pellegrini’s only source of quality cover in that position.
Fredericks – who is 5ft 11in [Transfermarkt] – was no doubt brought in to ease the burden on the aging full-back, but seeming as that could now be out of the question for a while, it is clear to see that Pellegrini has a bit of a problem.
Zabaleta is clearly running out of energy as the season progresses, and the fact that he could be Pellegrini’s only option could seriously jeopardise the quality at the back.
Admittedly, he been hugely consistent for the Hammers this season, but that will not continue if he is asked to play full games week in, week out.
The injury list has been piling up for Pellegrini, and it remains to be seen just how many absences the first team will be able to cope with.
