West Ham United face one of their biggest matches of the season this weekend as they head to Villa Park knowing a positive result could be decisive in their fight to stay in the Premier League.
A win against Aston Villa, combined with favourable results elsewhere, could finally lift the Hammers out of the relegation zone for the first time since early December.
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However, recent history offers little encouragement, with West Ham winless against Villa since August 2022.
And just days before this crucial encounter, they have been dealt a significant setback that could severely impact their chances.
Summerville to Miss Aston Villa Game
West Ham's Summerville injury news
Summerville is expected to miss “some games” with a minor calf injury.
Crysencio Summerville has been ruled out of the trip to Aston Villa in what comes as a major blow for West Ham.
The winger picked up a calf injury earlier this month after being forced off during the FA Cup clash with Brentford.
Initial concerns suggested the issue could sideline him for an extended period, though there had been some hope he might recover in time for the Villa fixture.
Summerville himself had been pushing for a swift return, but those hopes have now been dashed. The injury has also forced him to withdraw from the Netherlands squad, denying him what would have been his first international call-up.
His absence leaves a significant void in the West Ham attack, particularly given his importance to the team’s recent improvement in form.
Summerville Return Latest
While the setback rules him out of the Villa clash, there is some encouragement regarding the longer-term outlook.
The injury is now understood to be less serious than initially feared, but it will still keep him sidelined until after the upcoming international break. That timeline puts him in contention to return for the FA Cup quarter-final against Leeds in early April, followed by a crucial Premier League fixture against Wolves.
Although missing the Villa game is a major setback, the prospect of having Summerville back for the decisive run-in could prove vital. The Dutchman has been one of West Ham’s standout performers in 2026, scoring five goals and leading the squad in several attacking metrics, including successful dribbles and touches in the opposition box.
Losing Summerville at such a critical moment is a huge blow for West Ham, especially with survival hanging in the balance.
However, there remains optimism that his absence will be short-lived. If the Hammers can navigate the immediate challenge without him, having him back for the final stretch of the season could make all the difference in their bid to avoid relegation.