West Ham winger Keiber Lamadrid is in a race against time to be fit for the start of the Championship season after suffering a knee injury.
Lamadrid sustained the issue during last week’s 1-1 friendly draw with Bundesliga 2 outfit FC Magdeburg in Germany. Standard Sport understands that the 22-year-old, who was substituted in the 72nd minute at Avnet Arena, is expected to be sidelined for between two to three weeks.
Doubt for Burnley clash
That makes him a doubt for West Ham’s Championship opener against Burnley at Turf Moor on August 16. Lamadrid, who joined West Ham permanently in June after the club triggered a £1million option in their loan agreement with Venezuelan club Deportivo La Guaira, will not be available for this weekend’s Carabao Cup first-round tie at home to Portsmouth.
It is a frustrating setback for Lamadrid, who has worked hard to build up his fitness since first arriving in English football in January.
First-team hopes delayed
Having spent much of last season with West Ham’s Under-21s, Lamadrid is now part of Nuno Espirito Santo’s first-team squad. Nuno personally approved the deal to sign Lamadrid this summer, with the Venezuelan international penning a five-year contract to help West Ham push for promotion straight back to the Premier League.
But the West Ham boss will now seemingly have to wait before handing the young winger his league debut for the club. Lamadrid made his first senior appearance for West Ham in their FA Cup fourth-round victory over Burton Albion last season. It was, however, to be his only outing for the first team as they battled unsuccessfully to avoid relegation to the second tier.
