West Ham United fitness chief Gary Lewin has squashed rumours doing the rounds about star man Manuel Lanzini.
The Hammers have recovered from a dreadful start to the season to record back-to-back clean sheets and four points, lifting them out of the relegation zone.
But while the the 2-0 win over Huddersfield and 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion have proved the East Londoners have the stomach to grind out results it has not been easy on the eye.
One player who could change all that, star creative influence Manuel Lanzini.
The Argentine playmaker has been missing for most of the season so far bar a premature return as a half-time substitute in the 3-0 drubbing at Newcastle.
Lanzini has been injured ever since but rumours have been circulating online that he could return to the side this week ahead of the big London derby against Tottenham Hotspur and may even get some minutes under his belt in the midweek Carabao Cup match against Bolton Wanderers.
But former England and Arsenal physio Gary Lewin, now West Ham’s fitness chief, had some bad news for Hammers fans on the club’s official website revealing Lanzini is some way off a return yet.
“Manuel Lanzini is a bit further away but still on schedule in terms of his rehabilitation from the knee injury that he irritated up at Newcastle last month,” Lewin told whufc.com.
“He is back on the training pitches and working hard, and we are looking at him being available again after the next international break.”
The news will be hugely disappointing for supporters ahead of the huge derby against rivals Spurs.
Lanzini got the only goal of the game as West Ham ended Tottenham’s title hopes for the second successive season back in May.
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