West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini believes it could take Manuel Lanzini another three or four months to return to his best form having missed eight months with a knee injury.
Lanzini suffered a devastating ACL injury just six days before last summer's World Cup in a training camp with Argentina in Barcelona and was set to play a big role for Jorge Sampaoli's team. As it was, he missed the whole tournament and also six months of the 2018/19 Premier League season.
The 25-year-old returned to action as a substitute on February 22 when he played the final 15 minutes against Fulham in a 3-1 win at the London Stadium and had a subsequent 45 minute run out against Manchester City.
The Argentine has since started the next four games as he builds up his fitness but he has looked off the pace in the last three in particular but there is a reason for that, according to his manager.
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Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Monday nights Premier League clash with Chelsea, Pellegrini said: ""Manuel had the misfortune of getting injured at his peak moment.
"He had had a very good season with West Ham and he was considered a starter for Argentina ahead of the World Cup. He is now playing again without fear, but after such a long and serious injury, I think every player needs three or four months to return to their best level."
Lanzini is not the only player who has suffered a long-term problem under Pellegrini's watch, though admittedly the midfielder was when he was away with his country.
Andriy Yarmolenko and Winston Reid have been ruled out for the season with achilles and knee injuries respectively, while Carlos Sanchez hasn't played since September after his own knee problem. Jack Wilshere made his comeback for the Hammers U23s on Sunday after playing just eight minutes of action since September and Andy Carroll is also out for the season after struggling with an ankle problem.
Carroll missed the first four months of the season before returning, appearing 14 times but suffering yet another injury which has seen him sidelined since early February.
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