While Crysencio Summerville may just make West Ham United’s FA Cup game with Leeds next month, Nuno Espirito Santo would be foolish to repeat his mistake over the Dutchman.
Though not an absolute guarantee, Hammers News understands that Summerville could play for West Ham against Leeds on 5 April after a recent calf injury.
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A general view of the FA Cup trophy at Wembley.
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Having Summerville back would be a major boost for Nuno, who desperately needs his full squad available if he is to keep West Ham United in the Premier League.
That should be his focus, so any temptation over Summerville should be ignored in the FA Cup.
Nuno shouldn’t play Summerville vs Leeds in the FA Cup
While the FA Cup has been important for West Ham this season, it would be foolish to play Summerville if he is fit for the game against his former club in the world’s oldest cup competition.
It’s not that West Ham’s FA Cup campaign should be written off entirely, just that Premier League survival is obviously the priority.
Nuno was widely criticised for playing Summerville in the fifth round against Brentford, the game in which he suffered the calf injury.
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The in-form Dutchman has subsequently missed the following two Premier League games and West Ham are winless in them.
Crysencio Summerville during Fulham v West Ham United - Premier League
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
West Ham’s record without Summerville this season
The 24-year-old has missed six games this season, five of which have come in the Premier League.
While West Ham have only lost two of those, they are winless without the winger.
Draws will just not be enough for the Irons at this stage of the season. They need as many wins as possible, and the best chance they have of recording them is by fielding a fully fit Summerville.
Summerville has been one of the most in-form players in the Premier League in 2026 and they need him back as quickly as possible. The FA Cup may just have to take a bit of a backseat during his recovery from injury.
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