With club legend Michail Antonio departing last summer, Callum Wilson yet to find any rhythm, and young forward Daniel Cummings still waiting for a proper chance, the goals have simply dried up.
Perhaps most disappointing, though, has been Niclas Füllkrug, who has once again endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines after suffering a thigh injury in early October.
Now, manager Nuno Espírito Santo has provided a key update on the German’s fitness ahead of West Ham’s crucial clash with Burnley this weekend.
Nuno Gives Füllkrug Update
West Ham United's Niclas Fullkrug and Konstantinos Mavropanos. (Reuters/Cat Goryn)
West Ham United’s Niclas Fullkrug and Konstantinos Mavropanos. (Reuters/Cat Goryn)
Speaking ahead of the game, Nuno confirmed that Füllkrug is edging closer to a return, though he stopped short of promising an immediate comeback.
“My job is to coach the players,” he said. “After we arrived, Niclas played the first two games, and then unfortunately got injured.”
The Portuguese boss went on to add: “Now he’s coming back, and when we can get him healthy and ready to go, he’s going to be another really good option for the team.”
Füllkrug — who has missed 31 games for club and country since his £27 million move from Borussia Dortmund — has found the net just three times in claret and blue.
His time in East London has so far been plagued by fitness issues, and with his agent recently admitting the transfer “didn’t work out,” speculation continues to mount that the 32-year-old could leave in January.
For now, West Ham will hope Nuno’s optimism proves justified — but if Füllkrug breaks down again, any hope of recouping a fraction of his transfer fee will all but disappear.