Expert: Angelo Ogbonna in line for ‘new role’ at West Ham after injury latest
Angelo Ogbonna is in line to play a new backup role when he returns from his anterior cruciate ligament injury at West Ham.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
Ogbonna, who is 34 and has a year to run on his West Ham deal, has not played competitively since he suffered an ACL injury eight months ago.
But as relayed by club media last Tuesday (12 July), the Italian defender played the final 25 minutes in the Hammers’ 1-1 friendly draw at Boreham Wood.
The Irons have signed Nayef Aguerd from Rennes for £30million this summer, and fellow centre-backs Craig Dawson and Kurt Zouma both enjoyed fruitful 2021-22 campaigns.
Dinnery therefore forecasts that Ogbonna’s role will be reduced when he fully returns to action.
“It’s good for the player in terms of his return,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“Where do we see Ogbonna in the upcoming season? Pre-season comes at a good time because it’s an opportunity to get some minutes under his belt and get that confidence.
“But the assumption is that providing they don’t have any more setbacks on that backline, Ogbonna is going to be more of a backup player this season. There is Zouma, Dawson and the new guy, Aguerd.
“Ogbonna can get some decent minutes and hopefully he can play this new role well in the coming season, particularly in and around those European games.”
In other news, West Ham expected to change system after journalist’s Armando Broja update.