Enner Valencia Gives West Ham Fitness Boost

Enner Valencia has handed West Ham a major fitness boost by announcing he does not need an operation following a potentially serious injury on Thursday night.

The striker, 25, had given the Hammers the lead before being carried off on a stretcher in the 2-2 Europa League third qualifying round draw with Astra Giurgiu.

On Friday the club said Valencia had suffered what “appears to be a significant injury to his right knee and right ankle” and refused to put a time-frame on his return ahead of a meeting with a consultant.

But Valencia, who joined the club from Pachuca last summer, took to Instagram to post a picture of himself from the Astra game and wrote that he does not need surgery.

“I would like to thank everyone for the support and the affection shown on this difficult moment. Thanks God, today I received great news as I won’t need surgery, all the best!” he wrote.

The club has not said when they expect him to return and with record signing Andy Carroll also out injured, Irons boss Slaven Bilic is still likely to add another striker to his squad before the transfer window closes.

He has Diafra Sakho, Mauro Zarate and Mobido Maiga to choose from for the return leg in Romania and their Premier League opener at Arsenal on Sunday.

SKYSPORTS