West Ham have moved to clarify comments in a leak on the Crysencio Summerville situation after an angry backlash from fans.
Hammers News exclusive
There is a feeling of what might have been at West Ham regarding Graham Potter’s time at the helm so far.
There has been no real honeymoon period or big new manager bounce in terms of results since Potter took over from Julen Lopetegui on January 9th.
Much of that can be linked to injuries.
Potter was thrust straight into the action within 24 hours of being named Hammers boss.
Having already lost Michail Antonio, Jean-Clair Todibo and Jarrod Bowen prior to his arrival, Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville were then struck down in the first 45 minutes of Potter’s tenure.
That first half at Villa in the FA Cup has arguably been the best yet under the new boss.
West Ham’s style and approach in that match was exactly what supporters want to see.
Indeed it is what Hammers fans have been crying out for since growing fed up of the style of play under David Moyes.
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Key to that exciting first half display at Villa Park was Summerville.
The flying Dutchman really shone in Potter’s first game but has not been seen since.
The 23-year-old has captured the imagination of fans since arriving in a bargain £26m deal from Leeds last summer.
He is comfortably one of the best signings of a mismanaged summer rebuild.
Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
A player for now and the future, Summerville was criminally under-used by Potter’s predecessor Lopetegui.
It was a big statement when Potter started Summerville with Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta and Fullkrug in that first game.
The injury he picked up at Villa Park ruled Summerville out for a few weeks initially.
He had looked on course to return when he was spotted all smiles in full training last month.
But Potter revealed Summerville would be out until April after suffering a setback.
The Hammers boss revealed it was an injury to a different part of his hamstring.
Out of the blue yesterday came some terrible news, though.
A senior West Ham source told Claret and Hugh that Summerville’s season could be over.
Worse still, the Hammers source claimed the winger may even miss the start of next season as a result of refusing to have surgery on the issue.
Now West Ham have clarified the Summerville injury update after an angry fan backlash.
The senior club source was quoted as saying there is a danger Summerville will ‘break down again and then need an operation, the surgery he should have had last weekend’.
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
West Ham clarify Summerville injury update
That, it was claimed by the source, would see him miss the start of next season too.
The report then stated there is only a ‘tiny possibility’ that Summerville’s approach to heal naturally will work.
Supporters were understandably devastated by the news.
Many cited it as the latest example of the “West Ham curse”.
A large number of fans reacting on social media and forums were also angry about the leak itself.
Many felt it had thrown Summerville under the bus by appearing to criticise his decision not to have an operation.
Hammers News has now discussed the situation with the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners.
And they have moved to make clear that was not the intention, that Summerville may indeed be proved correct in his choice and that the club were merely looking to keep supporters updated.
“Sadly yes there is a possibility, as with any injury, that there are setbacks which might then keep him out longer,” the West Ham spokesman told Hammers News.
“But you never know without an operation, Crysencio might recover even quicker.
“Though the point being made is that with this injury that option does mean there is a higher chance it could return.”
Summerville certainly doesn’t look like a player who will be out too much longer.
Ten days ago he posted a series of videos on his Instagram account showing him doing sprints and exercises.
Summerville was at a facility abroad in the videos but was wearing a West Ham data monitoring vest.
He captioned the videos and images “Reset, restart, refocus” and “Back to the roots.”