West Ham co-chairman David Gold has confirmed that Manuel Lanzini will be out for up to six weeks as he struggles to overcome a thigh injury.
The 22-year-old limped off early in the Hammers’ 2-0 win over Liverpool on 2 January, just his second appearance back in the side after picking up the initial injury early last month.
Lanzini spent three weeks on the treatment table on that occasion but Gold has warned it could be twice as long before the midfielder returns this time.
Posting on Twitter the co-chairman confirmed that Lanzini is expected to be absent for “five to six weeks”. Last week he had suggested it could be as little as four weeks out for the midfielder but that has been revised upwards.
Despite his injury troubles in recent weeks West Ham are expected to activate their option to sign the Argentine midfielder, on loan from Abu Dhabi side Al Jazira, before the end of the season.
The return of Dimitri Payet has helped to offset the loss of Lanzini, with Victor Moses also expected back in the West Ham squad in the next week.
