Thanks to yet another Niclas Fullkrug injury, West Ham United boss Nuno Espirito Santo is preparing for the visit of Brentford on Monday night with Callum Wilson and Callum Marshall as his only centre-forward options.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed last week that Fullkrug had torn a thigh muscle and will be out for a number of weeks as a result.
Therefore, the striker who has started both of Nuno’s two Premier League matches in charge of the Hammers will be unavailable when Keith Andrews’ Bees come buzzing all the way to East London.
And while the West Ham fans take aim at the board once again – that they went into the season with two injury-prone 30-somethings and an unproven youngster as their three strikers is a fairly damning indictment of their squad-building – Nuno Espirito Santo is determined to see the positives.
Nuno Espirito Santo reacts to Niclas Fullkrug’s latest West Ham United setback
Fullkrug’s absence offers Callum Wilson the chance to prove that he should be West Ham’s starting striker from here on in.
While his game time has been limited, the freebie snapped up after his contract at Newcastle expired does appear a more mobile option. His clever header away to Nottingham Forest, furthermore, showcased Wilson’s movement and predatory instincts.
Nuno likes what he sees from Callum Marshall, too. After handing the former Huddersfield Town loanee his Premier League debut in the 2-0 defeat by Arsenal last time out, the manager praised the ‘energy’, the ‘mobility’, and the eye for goal Marshall brings to the table.
“[Fullkrug] will be out for some time,” Nuno tells DAZN Portugal. “For this specific position, we have Callum Wilson. We also have a young kid [Marshall], who already came on in the last game.
“But we will have to find solutions as a team. [A solution to Fullkrug’s injury] will have to be found.”
Nuno says defensive improvements are paramount ahead of Brentford clash
Nuno was disappointed with the lack of attacking threat displayed by his charges at the Emirates on a very one-sided afternoon.
But a man who took both Wolves and Nottingham Forest into Europe, while turning Willy Boly, Conor Coady, Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic into some of the division’s most dependable centre-halves, believes that West Ham’s revival should be built upon solid defensive foundations rather than a free-flowing attack.
“The team’s offensive process is not our priority at this time,” Nuno adds. “[We have to] identify ourselves as a team. What is it that we want to do?
“It is no use increasing the number of goals scored if we do not radically reduce the goals conceded. And, at this moment, we have had some problems. We have a serious problem in the dead-ball situations.
“The team concedes many goals and, at the same time, [loses] many first contacts.”
West Ham need better from Konstantinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman
Nuno saw Konstantinos Mavropanos leave Michael Keane unmarked to head Everton in front just 18 minutes into his Hammers tenure. That was the eighth set-piece goal conceded in their first six league matches of 2025/26.
On a more positive note, Nuno does feel that progress is being made with the help of his former Wolves stalwart Max Kilman.
“That is a big problem that we have to solve,” Nuno said before an improved defensive showing saw Arsenal restricted to a scrappy first and a contentious penalty in North London. “We’ve been working. I think we improved, [although there is] still a problem with the second phase.
“[Sorting out set-pieces is] something we are really concerned with. We have to solve it.
“Nowadays, set-pieces have a huge impact on the game. We have to become more aggressive because we have good leaders, good headers. Defending, we have to address it.”
