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Report: West Ham ace Obiang set to miss entire 2017-18 campaign

TOPSHOT - West Ham United's Spanish midfielder Pedro Obiang is taken from the field on a stretcher after picking up an injury during the English FA...
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West Ham midfielder Pedro Obiang injured his knee against Wigan.

Pedro Obiang of West Ham United is stretchered off during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Wigan Athletic and West Ham United on January 27, 2018 in Wigan, United Kingdom.

Football London has reported that West Ham United midfielder Pedro Obiang could miss the rest of the 2017-18 campaign after undergoing knee surgery on the injury picked up against Wigan Athletic.

The 25-year-old was withdrawn 36 minutes into the 2-0 loss in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the DW Stadium, after going down after a challenge. There were hopes of a quick recovery, but that optimism now seems distant.

Shrewsbury Town's English midfielder Abumere Ogogo (R) vies with  West Ham United's Spanish midfielder Pedro Obiang during the FA Cup third round replay football match between West Ham...

The Spaniard has gone under the knife to correct the issue and Football London claims it takes two and a half months to recover from an operation on a grade three tear of the medial ligament.

Obiang will require rehabilitation and time to return to match fitness, meaning he is unlikely to feature with just over three months remaining in the Premier League season.

Chance for Josh Cullen?

Cullen, 21, has been kept on the books at the London Stadium after being loaned to Bolton for the first half of the season. Reece Burke returned to Bolton, but midfielder Cullen was kept at West Ham by Moyes.

West Ham United's Scottish manager David Moyes (R) gestures to West Ham United's English-born Irish midfielder Josh Cullen from the touchline during the English FA Cup fourth round...

Pablo Zabaleta has been poor since moving into midfield of late, and now Obiang’s injury will surely see Moyes make a decision over whether he thinks the Argentine is good enough to play in the middle of the park until the end of the season.

On recent form, he is not. It should see Ireland Under-19 international Cullen handed a chance in the middle of the park during the second half of the campaign, after impressing in the FA Cup for the Hammers.

A boyhood fan, Cullen’s involvement could have the same feeling as that of a new signing, if he performs well enough.