West Ham’s top brass are hoping Enner Valencia will take expert advice when he meets a top specialist in London on Monday.
The club have still not given details of the striker’s injury and he is back in Ecuador tonight but there are fears he may have suffered a reaction to the injury that sidelined him for 12 weeks.
At the time of the last injury Valencia appeared caught between two stalls and hit out at the club claiming : “West Ham seem to have forgotten that I’m injured. But they don’t let me speak to another doctor. I don’t understand why West Ham doctors are doing this to me. The truth is that West Ham have not been supporting me.”
Valencia later moved to smooth the waters with a statement on West Ham’s official website saying: “I have had a number of consultation meetings with specialists in London, accompanied by members of the club’s medical staff, and they have always kept me updated me on my injury.
“It has been a frustrating time, but I would like to make clear that I have the utmost respect and confidence in the club’s medical team and the specialists I was referred to and I would like to apologise to them and the club for any issues arising from the recent press coverage.
However, ClaretandHugh insiders told us at time that the striker was unhappy at the prospect of surgery and it was that which may have been at the root of the problem.”
And tonight we were told: “He returns tomorrow (Fri) and the expert will say what needs to be done on Monday. Last time there was no operation as he didn’t want it and that’s POSSIBLY why its gone wrong again.
We really hope he has the operation this time IF the expert says he needs it.”
Yes. I agree. Absolutely correct. One should always take the advise of the medical professionals in these matters. Trust me, I’m a doctor.
Harold Shipman was a doctor ……..
Certainly some interesting speculation concerning Enner’s previous injury and his present situation he faces now. All the exhaustive and intensive rehab/physio can not repair a joint which has been rendered unstable due to the tremendous stresses applied in a destructive and intentionally brutal tackle. Many people who I encountered with unstable serious ankle or knee injuries, would ask the ultimate question; “do I need an operation”. My answer would usually be resolved by asking what sort of activities they were considering undertaking. If their reply suggested a desire to get back to their previous level of performance in their specific sport, I would give the following response (and the same if Enner came in for advice!?). Look, I know you feel much better, there is no obvious swelling around your joint, and you can walk (without pain) and even run quickly in a straight line. In the case of Enner, and if II had available to me, the expert advice of the people who ordered and read thei scans/stress testing etc., I’d answer, no you don’t need surgery if you don’t want o resume playing for West ham and your country. Furthermore, should you decide against surgery, and resume playing at the top level, it only takes a slight twist of your knee/ankle while your boot is stuck in a muddy pitch ( or an unintended clumsy tackle), and you could sustain further damage that is beyond any further surgical repair. There is really no perfect substitute for the functional capabilities of the original intact joint complex. If Enner should receive, advice explaining that he has sustained a serious injury, and if he want to maximize the chances of the best outcome (an extended period of future play thus allowing him to regain his former level of performance). Even in the best hands,the results in our current era are very good, but are no guarantee. Should he go into a state of denial and accuse the health professionals “that he was not properly advised”, he does no favour to himself, his family, club, and country. Whatever Andy Carroll’s future holds for him, at least he took the best advice, took the surgical option, underwent exhaustive rehab, and has reduced his chances of a further breakdown. Maybe, someone in the club hierarchy, should organize a 3-way chat, where Andy can answer any uncertainties or fears in Enner’s present state of mind.
For me, Enner is a great player, fast, an outright potent striker in his own right, and a wonderful assistant in setting up goals for his pal, Sakho. We need this man. I beg that someone stand up and look after this guy in the manner he fully deserves!
Good luck Enner & COYI,
Maxie