Keep news | Potter offers squad update ahead of Fulham clash

West Ham United head coach Graham Potter has offered updates on the fitness of several members of his squad ahead of Tuesday’s Premier League derby with Fulham.

The Hammers’ new boss takes charge of his side at the London Stadium for the first time but will have to juggle his attacking options after losing striker Niclas Füllkrug to a hamstring injury in Friday night’s Emirates FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa.

Füllkrug joins Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio in being suspended, while Crysencio Summerville was also withdrawn at half-time of the Villa Park defeat.

Potter says the absence of several members of his attacking ranks means he will have to explore alternatives on Tuesday but is confident he has the players in his squad to step up against the Cottagers.

“It’s fair to say it’s important (to Füllkrug),” confirmed Potter. “Anyone who watches the game, when a player stops like that, you know something pretty serious has happened.

“So it’s still early in terms of full diagnosis, I would suggest, but nonetheless a significant one, a number of weeks.

“With Crysencio it’s a smaller one. It’s probably a little bit more than a caution (taking him off at Aston Villa) – he felt something after about 35 minutes and finished his first half but probably not at 100 per cent.

“It’s touch and go (for Tuesday) but probably the negative is failing at the moment. We’ll see.