West Ham United’s attack has suffered a serious blow after their striker Niclas Fullkrug was confirmed to have sustained a significant thigh injury during training. Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann announced that the injury is likely to keep Fullkrug on the sidelines for several weeks, setting off alarm bells at both club and national team levels.
The 32-year-old forward has endured a troubled spell with injuries since his arrival at the London Stadium, and this latest setback only compounds concerns about his fitness and availability. According to Nagelsmann, Fullkrug suffered a torn muscle bundle in his thigh during a West Ham training session, making him unavailable for Germany’s latest international fixtures.
Nagelsmann revealed that he had intended to call up Fullkrug ahead of Germany’s matches — particularly the qualifier against Luxembourg — but was informed by West Ham that the striker would be unavailable owing to injury.
He said, “During the week, we wanted to nominate Niclas Fullkrug … that is not possible. Unfortunately, he’s injured.” He went on to confirm that Fullkrug’s injury is expected to sideline him for several weeks.
At club level, the timing is far from ideal. West Ham’s new head coach, Nuno Espírito Santo, had selected Fullkrug to spearhead his attacking line in his first two matches in charge. But now, with Fullkrug incapacitated, the team must scramble for alternatives.
Nuno has already acknowledged the challenge posed by the injury, saying, “I need a header player … that’s not possible, unfortunately, he’s injured. I can’t conjure up many things out of thin air … We have to make use of what we have and what’s available to us.”
This setback opens the door for younger alternatives. Callum Marshall, a 20-year-old recently promoted to the first team, is likely to see more opportunities in Fullkrug’s absence. Nuno indicated that Marshall’s energy, finishing ability, mobility, and understanding of space have impressed in training, and that he may be used to affect games during this critical period.
Marshall himself expressed optimism, saying: “I am happy the new manager has given me my debut … hopefully, there is more to come.”
Fullkrug’s history with injuries makes this latest episode all the more worrying. Since joining West Ham from Borussia Dortmund in August 2024, he has struggled to maintain consistent fitness. In January 2025, he suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for weeks. That followed earlier problems, including an Achilles issue and other muscular setbacks.
Club management and fans alike will now watch nervously as Fullkrug enters what could be a decisive recovery period. His absence deprives the team of a target man with aerial presence, something Nagelsmann also cited as a reason for hoping to include him in the national squad. “I need a player who can win headers,” the Germany coach said, underscoring Fullkrug’s importance beyond mere goal scoring.