West Ham United have suffered yet another cruel twist of fate this week when manager Nuno Espírito Santo announced an injury update regarding Pablow Felipe. Fresh off a gritty 1-1 draw with Manchester United, the Hammers have been rocked by the confirmation that their exciting new striker will be sidelined "for a while" with an injury sustained in last weekend's victory over Burnley.
Nuno delivered the sobering update during his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Burton Albion. "He's injured, unfortunately," Nuno said. "He's going to be out for a while. We don’t know exactly how long. It’s a big blow for us. We’ll have to assess it day by day."
Pablo, just 22-years-old , arrived at the London Stadium on January 2, 2026, from Portuguese side Gil Vicente in a deal reportedly worth €25 million (£21.8m). According to West Ham scouts he is seen as a dynamic, powerful centre-forward capable of injecting goals and energy into a side desperate for attacking reinforcements. In Portugal, Pablo had been on fire, netting 10 goals in just 13 league appearances during the first half of the 2025/26 campaign. His blend of physicality, movement in the box, and relentless work rate made him a standout – the kind of signing that could help West Ham climb out of the relegation zone.
He made his Premier League debut as a substitute in a 2-1 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on January 6 and quickly earned plaudits for his impact off the bench. Across six appearances (three starts), Pablo showed flashes of quality: creating chances, winning duels, and pressing with intensity. No goals yet for the Irons, but the early signs were promising.
The Knock That Changed Everything
The injury occurred during West Ham's 2-0 win over Burnley on February 8. Pablo picked up a heavy knock – reports suggest it may be a recurrence of a thigh issue he suffered in December while still at Gil Vicente. He was unable to feature in Tuesday night's clash with Manchester United, where Tomas Soucek's opener was cancelled out by Benjamin Sesko's late equaliser.
Nuno's words carried the weight of concern. "It’s a big blow," he reiterated, echoing the frustration of a squad already navigating a tricky campaign. Sources close to the club, have highlighted the frustration of the setback, noting Pablo's history of short-term issues but warning that this could linger. There are even whispers of longer-term fears, with some insiders concerned the problem might sideline him for the remainder of the season. While nothing is confirmed, the lack of a return timeline has fans on edge.
"This could have gone worse," a club soure revealed. "Its something we really needed to pay attention to and now it has to be approached in the right way so that he can return healthy rather than have him come back early and it keep recurring."
A Timely Hit for a Team in Transition
The timing could hardly be worse. West Ham sit perilously close to the drop zone, with every point feeling like a lifeline. Pablo was emerging as a key piece in Nuno's system – a mobile threat to complement the likes of Jarrod Bowen and others in attack. His absence leaves the forward line thinner, especially with other squad concerns.
West Ham will now lean even more heavily on their remaining options for the trip to Burton this weekend. Nuno has confirmed Pablo will miss the cup clash, alongside the suspended Jean-Clair Todibo. For now, the focus is on recovery. Pablo will be assessed daily, with the club hoping for a swift turnaround. In the meantime, West Ham must find a way to navigate a congested fixture list without their new No. 9.