Injury expert tells West Ham to ‘do the right thing’ after Ogbonna news
West Ham must do the “right thing” and offer the injured Angelo Ogbonna a new contract.
So says injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Ogbonna, whose deal runs out at the end of the campaign, is facing several months on the sidelines with damage to his anterior cruciate ligament.
But The Athletic reported on 9 November that West Ham will extend the Italian defender’s deal if he is ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Dinnery claims there is no reason why the 34-year-old cannot return to his pre-injury levels and warrant a new contract in East London.
“First and foremost, we don’t know the full extent of the damage yet,” he told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams.
“We know that imaging had revealed that there was some damage and he was referred to see a specialist.
“But it may not require surgical intervention and they may want to deal with the injury conservatively.
“Even in a worst-case scenario, ACL injuries are not career-ending anymore.
“We aren’t sure about the length of the contract or other stipulations that might be put into it.
“Yes, it is a business, but there’s no indication as to why Ogbonna can’t return to pre-injury levels. He still has a lot to offer the club.
“There may be some sort of caveat in the contract with regards to his recovery so that they are safeguarded.
“I think it’s the right thing to do to offer him a new contract. We’ll have to wait and see what they do.”
In other news, pundit suggests West Ham on high alert as Jesse Lingard price tag crashes by £20million.