WEST HAM manager Slaven Bilic has confirmed that forward Manuel Lanzini is out of action for up to five weeks through injury.
The Argentine took a kick to his knee against Colombia in a warm-up clash ahead of the Olympics and was sent back to London for urgent tests.
Lanzini, who signed for the Hammers permanently in March in a £9million move, is likely to miss the opening three matches of the Premier League season.
The news comes as a blow for a disappointed Bilic with left-back Aaron Cresswell already out for up to six months with knee ligament damage.
Speaking ahead of West Ham’s Europa League clash against Domzale, the West Ham boss said: “Lanzini unfortunately is another blow for us.
“He was with us in the United States and he stayed there to join the Olympic national team. He got a kick to the knee and he can’t play for the next four or five weeks.
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“I think he is going to miss the first three games of the season which is not ideal but it’s not that bad.
“Hopefully he will be back after the international break.”
Lanzini joins the likes of Dimitri Payet, Angelo Ogbonna and James Collins who will miss game as West Ham look to overturn a shock 2-1 deficit after the first leg defeat.
But despite the absences, Bilic believes his side have the quality to go through and hopes a win will spark confidence heading into their league campaign at their new home ground.
“We are training hard and we have a negative result from the first game.
“We don’t have a mountain to climb but we have a job to do. If we play better than we did in the first-leg we have a really great chance to go through. I don’t doubt the quality.
“We have to adjust to the new stadium and there is no better way than to win. Hopefully we are going to start tomorrow.”
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