Manuel Lanzini suffered a hamstring injury during West Ham’s 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on Saturday.
West Ham United defender Pablo Zabaleta has told the Daily Star that his teammate Manuel Lanzini could be sidelined for a number of weeks after suffering a hamstring injury on Saturday.
Lanzini, 24, was replaced in the 64th minute of the Hammers’ 1-1 draw with Bournemouth after going down with the muscle injury, adding to David Moyes’ long list of absentees.
The Argentinian playmaker joins Andy Carroll, Michail Antonio, Jose Fonte, Edimilson Fernandes, Winston Reid and Diafra Sakho in the treatment room, with the Hammers desperate for his return.
But fellow countryman Zabaleta claimed that the Hammers ace could be out for a number of weeks or even more than a month, stating his disappointment at the injury as he feels Lanzini is one of the most important members of the team.
“Manu says he felt his hammy so hopefully it’s not too bad,” Zabaleta said. “It could be a few weeks or it could be more than a month, I don’t know, we need to wait for the scan.
“Hopefully it’s not too bad because Manu is one of the key players, one of the most important players for our team.
“But it’s the same thing, he played 120 minutes against Shrewsbury and players like him that make so many sprints during a game, they are sharp, quick – sometimes it’s a risk.”
Making just two Premier League appearances by October due to a niggling knee injury, Lanzini has returned to prove his worth once again as one of the division’s best playmakers.
In a side that have struggled to fashion chances, the former River Plate star has scored three goals and created another eight strikes during his 20 league and cup outings.
Following Saturday’s FA Cup clash against Wigan, West Ham go on a crucial run of three games that Moyes will be expecting to earn points. They face Palace on January 30, Brighton on February 3 and Watford a week later.
But without Lanzini, the Hammers chances of earning three consecutive wins are in doubt.
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