Medical Insider backs’100%’ Maxwel Cornet plan after West Ham twist
West Ham have to wait until Maxwel Cornet is “100 per cent” injury free before he can return.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
Cornet has not featured for West Ham since he suffered a knee injury in their 2-0 win over Wolves at the beginning of October.
ExWHUEmployee told the West Ham Way last week (17 December) that the 26-year-old has to be “100 per cent” if David Moyes is to call upon him.
He could be in contention for their trip to Arsenal on Boxing Day but “niggles” have stopped him from featuring in any of the Hammers’ mid-season friendlies.
“You have to contextualise the wording of injuries and how the status of players is described,” Dinnery told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Injury-free or a return to train does not mean that a player is ready to be fully integrated and ready to play.
“In terms of Maxwel Cornet, does 100 per cent mean injury-free and therefore working normally and fully integrated into the team therefore, in theory, being available for selection?
“Or, is he talking about a player who he wants to be 100 per cent match fit and ready to be thrown in there from the off?
“I’d probably suggest it’s the former because the only way he’s going to get back up to match speed is to get those competitive minutes into his legs.
“He has to be fully fit, not match fit, but injury free. That makes sense because we’ve seen with Cornet, that was a fairly innocuous injury that he picked up against Wolves.
“It didn’t look like much but we’re away of at least two little reactions on the training pitches that have delayed that comeback.
“Once you’ve had those warning signs, you don’t want to take any chances or cut any corners. When they are out there 100 per cent injury free, they can be considered for a return.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has tipped an “auction” for West Ham as the “deal of the century” is cited.