Scamacca lay-off

Gianluca Scamacca’s season-ending injury has taken Hammers insiders by surprise and created doubt about his long term future at the club.

The knee injury which saw him go under the knife was relatively minor and there have been raised eyebrows among backroom sources that he will not be seen again this season as a result.

Initially David Moyes claimed surgery was unlikely and that the striker was set for a couple of weeks rehab before the decision was taken to conduct the operation.

Following that, a statement from the Policlinico Gemelli hospital in Rome, via Gazzetta Dello Sport, confirmed that the forward was successfully operated on in Rome following a right knee external meniscus tear.

The statement added that the operation lasted a few minutes, incorporating an arthroscopy of the knee, which highlighted the tear, with Scamacca now “progressing satisfactorily” post operation and facing a rehabilitation period of between two to three months for a full athletic recovery.

It coincides of course with reports that the front man and his recently changed agents want a return to Italy.

Now some inside the club are surprised that such a “few minutes operation” should require an up to three month lay off and there are fears that the player will be indeed be on his way this summer fully fit from rehab,

A source explained to Claret and Hugh: “Yes we were surprised to hear the news of such a long lay off. His agent explains there is no issue about leaving but …..!”

By Hughie Southon