Angelo Ogbonna could miss the rest of the season after sustaining a serious knee injury, handing West Ham a blow in their challenge to finish in the top four.
The Italian centre-back had to go off during the first half of West Ham’s 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday and a scan has revealed that the injury is worse than initially feared. Ogbonna, 33, has damaged an anterior cruciate ligament and he could be out for as long as nine months if he needs an operation.
Ogbonna will see a specialist this week to determine whether surgery is required. The defender has formed an exceptional partnership with Kurt Zouma this season and has played a major role in West Ham rising to third, three points behind the leaders, Chelsea.
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Ogbonna, who joined West Ham from Juventus in 2015, was replaced by Craig Dawson during the victory over Liverpool. Dawson will provide reliable cover, with Issa Diop another alternative to partner Zouma. Ogbonna is out of contract in the summer, although the club have a one-year option.
