West Ham star Lanzini out of World Cup with serious knee injury

The Argentinean Football Federation have announced West Ham creator Manuel Lanzini will miss the 2018 World Cup through injury.

Lanzini has endured an injury-hit season for West Ham and is now set for a long spell on the sidelines after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

The 25-year-old would have started for Argentina at the World Cup but may not play again this year, depending on the severity of the injury picked up in training.

“Manuel Lanzini suffered, in this morning training, the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee,” a statement read on the Argentinean FA’s official Twitter account.

Not only is news of Lanzini’s injury a blow to Argentina’s chances of winning the World Cup, but also for West Ham ahead of the new season.

The Hammers really struggled when Lanzini was not available last season and Manuel Pellegrini will have to re-evaluate his plans for the summer transfer window.

Since joining West Ham in 2015, the Hammers have a better win ratio in the league when he has started (35.1%) compared to when he has not featured from the off (29.7%).

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