OPINION
West Ham have been on a bit of a rollercoaster this season.
At times they have looked as if they could really do some damage to some of the biggest teams in the Premier League, at others they have looked like one of the most feeble and underwhelming sides in the division.
On the face of it, after a summer of big investment and with a new manager at the helm, that should never have been the case, and the Hammers should have been challenging for a European spot with a lot more conviction and tenacity than they have shown for large parts of this campaign.
That doesn’t really tell the whole story, however. Yes, the Hammers spent big, bit that matters for little if the players you sign aren’t available for selection.
Take Carlos Sanchez, for example. The Colombian signed from Fiorentina last summer, but has featured just six times in all competitions after sustaining a fairly serious knee injury.
Now, however, after a lengthy lay-off, the 33-year-old has been pictured back in first team training, and West Ham fans will surely be rejoicing at the behind the scenes snap.
Carlos Sanchez is back in training with the first team after suffering a serious knee injury back in September. Manuel Pellegrini said the Colombian could feature before the end of the season. #WHUFC pic.twitter.com/3HJ2v33Cgr
— Sam Inkersole (@Sam_InkersoleTM) April 11, 2019
Declan Rice and Mark Noble have done a fine join the engine room this term, but beyond them, with Jack Wilshere also injured for large spells and Pedro Obiang failing to impress, West Ham have looked more than a little lightweight at times.
While there are no certainties over when Sanchez will return, of course, the fact that he has been able to join in with first team sessions would suggest that the player is fully on the mend.
That can only be good thing for the Irons.
