Füllkrug, Todibo, Summerville: latest West Ham injury news and return dates ahead of Brentford clash

Graham Potter and West Ham United may not have planned to go out in the third round of the FA Cup, but given that the Hammers have several key players slowly working their way through injury issues, a weekend off may turn out to be a good thing for a battered and bruised squad.

Jean-Clair Todibo, Lucas Paquetá and Edson Álvarez are among the regular starters carrying injuries of varying severity, while stricken summer signing Niclas Füllkrug is reportedly getting closer to a return from his latest lay-off, and the lengthy rest ahead of their next match against Brentford in the Premier League could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

We’ve got all the latest updates on West Ham’s injured players and their recoveries, along with their expected return dates where available.

Füllkrug inching closer as Ferguson fitness improves

Niclas Füllkrug’s short career at the London Stadium so far has been blighted by persistent injuries, and he has managed just 11 matches since his summer move. No sooner had the 31-year-old returned from an Achilles issue than he sustained a hamstring problem to replace it, and he has subsequently missed the last four games.

But the German striker is now back doing light exercise, with a picture showing him training in Dubai as he works his way back to health. Potter had told the press in mid-January that Füllkrug would be unavailable for “a number of weeks” and it seems as though his recovery is continuing apace. The club have not released an official update, but the Brentford game will likely come too soon.

The unplanned winter mini-break will also give the club an opportunity to get loan striker Evan Ferguson back to full fitness. The Irishman had only just returned to full training at Brighton following an ankle injury before his move to West Ham, and could only manage 17 minutes as a substitute on debut against Chelsea. He should be able to play a larger role against Brentford. Michail Antonio is still recovering from the serious injuries sustained in a car crash in December, and has no return date as yet.

Summerville blow with key players doubtful for next week

The worst news to emerge from the London Stadium concern winger Crysencio Summerville. The summer signing had already missed time with a thing injury, but unconfirmed reports circulated by social media and fan sites suggest that the former Leeds man has suffered a setback and is now expected to be out for a further eight weeks.

Elsewhere, another summer signing who has missed time, defender Jean-Clair Todibo, who has been absent for the past four games due to an ankle injury, is “progressing” with his recovery, according to Potter, but there is little clarity over whether he has any chance of facing Brentford next week, with the club keeping details of his recovery close to their chest.

There are also doubts over Brazilian attacking midfielder and occasional emergency striker Lucas Paquetá, who has been unavailable for a fortnight thanks to a hip injury, and Edson Álvarez, who came off with a knock late on during the recent draw against Aston Villa.

Paquetá was due back in training this week and should be ready to play next weekend barring setbacks, while the status of Mexican midfielder Álvarez, who missed out against Chelsea, is less clear. Potter told the press prior to the Chelsea defeat that the decision not to field him had been made late in the day, which implies that the injury is perhaps not too significant.