West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui issues Niclas Fullkrug fitness update that contradicts earlier statement by Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann

Julen Lopetegui hopes Niclas Fullkrug could be fit for West Ham‘s trip to Fulham despite Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann insisting the striker would have to miss the game through injury.

Fullkrug was forced to sit out Germany’s 2-2 draw with the Netherlands on Tuesday after picking up an issue around his calf and Achilles tendon.

While Nagelsmann said the injury was not serious, he added: ‘He will have to take a few days off. He will not be playing in the Premier League at the weekend.’

But Lopetegui has not ruled Fullkrug out of Saturday’s game at Craven Cottage and will make a final decision on his fitness on Friday.

‘Let’s see. Fulla, I hope is going to be ready in the next days,’ the West Ham boss said on Thursday.

Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann said that Fullkrug would not play for West Ham on Saturday

‘We are evaluating him too today. On Wednesday he was a little bit better. We are going to see how he is exactly and then take last decision about him. 

‘I hope that it’s not important.’

Fullkrug is yet to start a Premier League game since his £23million move from Borussia Dortmund, with Lopetegui having opted to play Michail Antonio instead.

Antonio, though, only returned to West Ham training on Thursday after arriving back late from international duty with Jamaica.

Lopetegui admitted he could use Jarrod Bowen in the centre forward role, with the Hammers captain having played there for England during the international break and multiple times last season.

But Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui has suggested that Fullkrug might be fit to face Fulham

Fullkrug has yet to score in four West Ham matches since signing from Dortmund in August

‘We have the possibility to play with Jarrod,’ Lopetegui said.

‘The problem is not one position, the problem is to have the right team for the big challenge we have in front of us.’