‘We will miss him’ – Huge injury blow confirmed for key Leeds United relegation rivals…

“We will miss him” – A significant injury setback confirmed for crucial Leeds United relegation competitors.

West Ham is set to host Leeds United at the London Stadium for an FA Cup quarter-final in three weeks.

Leeds United’s relegation competitors, West Ham, will be without Crysencio Summerville for at least one match following the confirmation of an injury.

Summerville sustained the injury during West Ham’s penalty shootout win against Brentford last weekend. The former Leeds player was initially rested but came on at half-time and continued to play despite the injury, although he did not take a penalty kick.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged after that victory that the situation regarding Summerville was ‘concerning,’ and since then, reports have surfaced about a calf injury. The severity of the issue remains uncertain, with conflicting reports.

Espirito Santo provided an update on Thursday, confirming that Summerville will miss Saturday’s Premier League match at home against Manchester City. The Hammers manager could not specify a potential return date but did not indicate that the injury would be long-term.

“We have Summerville out,” Espirito Santo confirmed. “We will evaluate him daily and monitor his progress, but he’s not available for the game. We will certainly miss him as he is a key player for us, especially for this match.”

When asked about the nature of the injury, he added: “It’s a calf issue. Such injuries can occur at any time, but when he came on, he was a significant asset for the team. He performed exceptionally well, as he has done repeatedly for us in recent weeks. He managed to stay in the game during extra time and contributed to the team’s efforts.”

A significant setback for Leeds United’s relegation rivals.

Summerville’s absence, regardless of duration, is a considerable disadvantage for West Ham. The Dutch winger has netted seven goals in his last 11 appearances across all competitions, a streak that has coincided with the East London team beginning to accumulate points in the relegation battle.

Following Manchester City’s visit to the London Stadium on Saturday, Summerville will have an entire week to work on his fitness before West Ham heads to Aston Villa. The former Leeds player was set to receive his first Netherlands call-up during the international break in March, but he must recover quickly to avoid missing out.

After that two-week hiatus, West Ham will face Leeds in the FA Cup quarter-finals at the beginning of April. This encounter will offer one team the opportunity to advance to Wembley, but it could also serve as a morale booster or setback ahead of their Premier League clash in the final weekend.

The late-May match has been seen as a possible relegation decider for some time, but Leeds will be optimistic about securing their safety by then. Daniel Farke’s team is currently three points ahead of the 18th-placed Hammers, boasting a better goal difference as well.

Leeds also enjoy a more favorable schedule leading up to that final-day showdown, with Brentford, Wolves, Burnley, and Brighton all set to visit Elland Road. The Whites may also believe they can earn points away against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.