Crushing new details have emerged about an injury to West Ham star Pablo after cruel twist which puts the club’s safety at risk.
A grand total of 59 forwards have been signed by West Ham since David Sullivan’s arrival as majority owner 16 years ago last month.
Since Sullivan’s arrival in January 2010, very few of West Ham’s forward signings have been genuine success stories.
The few that have hit it off either get injured or don’t sustain it. And those that do often don’t stick around long amid interest from elsewhere.
There is a feeling around West Ham that the club is cursed when it comes to strikers.
The West Ham striker curse is real
There has certainly been a lot of evidence to support that theory down the years from Dean Ashton right through to Niclas Fullkrug.
The latest two striker signings, Taty Castellanos and Pablo, joined West Ham’s fight against relegation last month.
Todibo’s return gives Nuno a problem…
Jean Clair Todibo of West Ham United passes the ball during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Nottingham Forest at the London Stadium in Stratford, on January 6, 2026. Axel Disasi of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Burnley and West Ham United at Turf Moor on February 07, 2026 in Burnley, England.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
And fight they have.
The South American duo have not set the world alight with goals.
But the insatiable workrate of the duo has helped transform the Hammers into a competent team which not only functions better in attack but defends from the front.
Split image showing Pablo Felipe playing for West Ham and Taty Castellanos playing for West Ham
Credit: Rob Newell – CameraSport/Alex Pantling via Getty Images
Both Taty and Pablo have pressed, harried and wrestled the opposition.
Not only have they been a real nuisance, they have also created space for the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, who had become too easy to mark given West Ham’s lack of threat from anywhere else.
Now there is more evidence of the West Ham striker curse at the worst possible time.
Pablo missed the game against Man United through injury.
The Brazilian has been in and out of the starting XI since his £20m arrival from Gil Vicente but has always shown a great attitude and workrate for the team, occupying several defenders in the process.
Crushing new details emerge about injury to West Ham star Pablo
But now he is the latest example of the West Ham striker curse.
Because crushing new details have emerged about the injury to West Ham star Pablo after a cruel twist.
How should Nuno react to Pablo’s ‘big’ injury lay-off? 🤕
Fernandes at 10? Wilson back in, maybe?
Pablo of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on January 17, 2026 in London, England.
Nuno Espirito Santo pushed hard to make the star his first West Ham signing.
So there was disappointment etched all over the head coach’s face when he revealed the forward is injured and ‘is going to be out for a while’.
Nuno stated that the club do not know exactly how long Pablo will be out for when speaking to the press ahead of West Ham’s FA Cup tie at Burton.
Although the Hammers boss added that Pablo’s injury will be assessed ‘day by day’.
Pablo Felipe playing for West Ham against Tottenham.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
There has been a bitter blow for West Ham in their battle to avoid relegation, though.
Because Hammers News understands the injury, the exact nature of which West Ham are not disclosing, is significant enough that it could keep Pablo out until at least April.
A West Ham source has confirmed the injury is expected to keep Pablo out for ‘at least six weeks’ although there are fears, as reported by the likes of Claret and Hugh, that he could miss the rest of the season.
In a further revelation that will bring back bad memories of the Fullkrug situation, Pablo arrived at West Ham having been out for nearly a month with muscular problems.
Pablo out for at least six weeks but free agent replacement highly unlikely
West Ham were aware of the issues and it is unclear if his new injury is related.
With Castellanos, Callum Wilson, Bowen and Summerville all options up front and Adama Traore having played there – or the second striker role – on occasion in the past, West Ham are not expected to move for any free agent forwards as a result of the Pablo blow.
When asked whether the club could move for free agents after the window closed, West Ham’s owners said there was a “one per cent chance”.
Whether that increases now due to Pablo’s injury is unlikely, especially because Nuno is very particular about the players he signs.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox