Injury expert Ben Dinnery has claimed that Craig Dawson may not return until after the upcoming international break.
The 32-year-old is yet to feature this season having last played in a pre-season friendly with RC Lens and insider ExWHUemployee previously revealed that the centre-back was dealing with a niggling thigh problem throughout the summer.
His future appeared up in the air before the transfer window ultimately shut last week as details of an arduous personal commute from up north to Rush Green emerged but a move to Wolves collapsed on deadline day.
However, Dinnery has now confirmed that it may be another while before supporters will see Dawson back in a claret and blue shirt.
Speaking on the Premier FPL Injuries YouTube channel he said:
“We’ve heard on several occasions how Craig Dawson was nearing a return from this persistent thigh problem which hampered him throughout the summer. Unfortunately, he’s not responding as hoped, it’s taken a little bit longer and again, this may be a player that we won’t see back in action until October, of course, after that international break.”
News of Dawson’s setback may be eased by the fact that there has been a welcome return to action for the experienced head of Angelo Ogbonna but considering summer signing Nayef Aguerd is recovering from ankle surgery he underwent in July, David Moyes could still do with Dawson sooner rather than later.
The Hammers begin their European campaign this week with the visit of Basel before hosting Newcastle United as they look to climb out of the bottom three but it appears that the Scottish manager will be without the former Watford defender for another couple of weeks at least.
