**West Ham midfielder Edson Álvarez has undergone surgery on his ankle and is expected to be out of action for a considerable amount of time.**
The Mexican, who is currently on loan at Fenerbahçe, has been suffering with ankle problems since December and has missed eight games for the Turkish side as a result.
The 28-year-old has made 17 appearances for Fenerbahçe since his loan move from the Hammers in the summer, registering one assist and staying free of any bookings or dismissals in that time — a far cry from his West Ham days, when the Mexican was often in the referee’s book.
But now it looks as though he is set to miss significant game time, and if the injury does not heal effectively, the Mexican skipper’s chances of playing at a World Cup in his home country could be in jeopardy.
The last time Álvarez suffered a significant injury was for his national side at the start of the 2024 Copa América, when he sustained a torn thigh muscle, forcing him to miss the remainder of the tournament as well as all of pre-season for the Irons.
Although the general form of the Hammers under Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter did not help, Álvarez never hit the heights of his impressive first season at London Stadium and was shipped out on loan to Turkey under Potter, in what was a frankly questionable move.
The Mexican was rash in the tackle during his time in East London, but also showed his quality on several occasions — he read the game well, could spot a pass and displayed excellent footwork in tight spaces.
In his first season, Álvarez came third in the Hammer of the Year fan voting, behind Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus, both of whom were coming off excellent campaigns themselves.
On paper, “El Machín” would be a useful asset to Nuno Espírito Santo next season if the Irons remain in the Premier League. The Mexican is still a popular figure at the club, as was proven by the messages of support left by West Ham players on Instagram following news of his surgery.
But this latest setback could have a serious impact on his career. It remains to be seen how successful the surgery and Álvarez’s recovery will be, but if he misses the rest of the season — and the summer’s World Cup — the Mexican could become more trouble than he is worth to Nuno.