Lanzini heads for appointment with pioneer surgeon

Manu Lanzini is heading to Barcelona for a consultation with world renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dr Ramon Cugat in Barcelona this week.

He will be joined by the Hammers new head of medical Richard Collinge and has vowed to ‘come back as best as possible’ after suffering a serious knee injury.

Lanzini is believed to have suffered a suspected torn anterior cruciate ligament and with  40 years of experience in treating knee injuries, Dr Cugat is considered a pioneer in arthroscopic surgery.

A statement on the club website says he has worked with some of football’s biggest names during his career, including Lanzini’s compatriot Sergio Aguero and Spain stars Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Cesc Fabregas, David Villa and Fernando Torres.

The midfielder said: “It’s an extremely hard moment. I pose myself so many questions but I know there are no answers. But I try to see things in a positive light, which was what my parents always told me.

“I’m receiving support from my family and my teammates and that has been extremely important for me because when I had the injury I felt like the world fell over me, it was the worst sensation I felt in these 25 years.

“I will have surgery in Barcelona, Spain, with Ramon Cugat, and I’m going to be very serious in my recovery. It’s not a question of how fast I come back but of following the plan and come back as best as possible.”