LONDON – West Ham United received a significant boost ahead of a crucial stretch of the season as striker Pablo Felipe has returned to first-team training, according to reports. The 22-year-old Brazilian, who joined the Hammers in January from Gil Vicente for a reported €20 million, has been sidelined with a calf injury since early February, but appears to be making encouraging progress.
The news comes as a welcome development for manager Nuno Espírito Santo, who is navigating a challenging Premier League campaign with West Ham currently battling to avoid relegation. Nuno confirmed earlier on Thursday that Felipe was “progressing well on his path to full fitness,” as reported by the club’s official website. This update was further corroborated by insider ExWHUemployee on social media.
Felipe’s injury occurred during West Ham’s 2-0 victory over Burnley at the beginning of the month, limiting his impact after arriving as a mid-season reinforcement. He subsequently missed draws against Manchester United and Bournemouth, as well as the FA Cup fourth-round win over Burton Albion. The absence of a natural goalscorer has been keenly felt by the Hammers, who are currently 18th in the league table, relying on a superior goal difference to stay ahead of Nottingham Forest.
Initially, it was anticipated that Felipe would be sidelined for four to six weeks with the calf problem. However, his return to training suggests a potentially quicker recovery than initially feared. Whereas Nuno Espirito Santo cautioned that the striker’s return will depend on how he adapts to increasing workloads, the prospect of having him available for selection soon is a positive sign.
“He didn’t join us yet. He’s starting his individual programme, so he’s improving day by day,” Nuno said on Thursday, as reported by Yahoo Sports. “Like I said, we keep assessing him to see when he can return. It all depends on him, it depends on how he adapts to the loads again, so hopefully soon because we miss him.”
Despite having yet to score or register an assist in his six appearances for West Ham, Felipe has already impressed fans with his relentless work rate and tenacity. Before his move to London, the forward enjoyed a prolific spell in Portugal, scoring ten goals and providing one assist in 13 games for Gil Vicente. West Ham supporters will be hoping he can replicate that form in the Premier League.
The timing of Felipe’s potential return is particularly crucial for West Ham. They face a challenging run of fixtures, including an FA Cup fifth-round clash against Brentford on Monday, followed by a Premier League encounter with Manchester City next Saturday. A pivotal league match against Aston Villa on March 22, before the international break, could also be a realistic target for Felipe’s return to competitive action.
The relegation battle is incredibly tight, with just one point separating West Ham from Tottenham Hotspur and a superior goal difference keeping them above Nottingham Forest. Every point will be vital in the remaining nine league games, and the addition of a fit and firing Pablo Felipe could prove to be the difference between Premier League survival and a return to the Championship.
Nuno Espirito Santo also confirmed there were no modern injury concerns ahead of the Liverpool game on Saturday, offering some stability to the squad. The Hammers haven’t won at Anfield since 2015, losing nine of the last ten meetings between the two sides, but a victory would lift them out of the relegation zone before Nottingham Forest’s match against Brighton.
West Ham fans will be eagerly awaiting further updates on Felipe’s progress, hoping to see him back on the pitch as soon as possible to contribute to their fight for Premier League survival. The club will continue to assess his fitness in the coming days, with a view to integrating him back into the squad when he is fully prepared.
What’s Next: West Ham United travel to Merseyside to face Liverpool on Saturday, March 7th, followed by their FA Cup clash against Brentford on Monday, March 10th. Further updates on Pablo Felipe’s fitness will likely be provided by Nuno Espírito Santo in his pre-match press conferences.
What do you think? Can Pablo Felipe make a difference in West Ham’s relegation battle? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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