When you think of a traditional, old-school centre-forward, Niclas Fullkrug is exactly what comes to mind.
Standing at 6ft 2in with broad shoulders and a missing front tooth, the 32-year-old German striker is the type of player West Ham has longed for to lead their attack.
Since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in the summer for £27 million, Fullkrug has been a spark in the Hammers’ attack, offering them the physical presence and aerial threat they’ve been lacking.
A Delayed Start but Immediate Impact
Fullkrug’s journey in East London has had its hurdles.
A hamstring injury just 15 minutes into his first match under Graham Potter in January set him back, and for a time, Potter was forced to experiment with different attacking combinations, including players like Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus, and Jarrod Bowen—all of whom are not natural strikers.
Despite these setbacks, Fullkrug has slowly worked his way back into the fold, and since his return, he’s already made a significant impact.
In his first two games back, both as a substitute, Fullkrug has proven to be a game-changer.
Against Wolves, he set up Tomas Soucek for a crucial late chance and nearly scored himself with a header that hit the crossbar.
Then, just seven minutes after coming on against Bournemouth, Fullkrug scored a bullet header from a James Ward-Prowse corner—his signature move.
More Than Just Aerial Power
While Fullkrug’s physicality and ability to score headers are his standout qualities, there’s much more to his game.
His presence on the pitch also improves those around him, with Jarrod Bowen scoring shortly after Fullkrug moved back into the centre.
Fullkrug’s ability to link up with teammates and bring them into play makes him a more complete striker than just a target man.
Adapting to the Premier League
Fullkrug himself admits it’s been a challenging road to get to this point. From behind-closed-doors friendlies to warm-weather training in Dubai, the striker has put in the work to adapt to the Premier League.
However, he acknowledges that he’s still not quite at full fitness and isn’t yet ready to start a match.
Despite these challenges, he remains focused on continuing to improve and help the team moving forward.
“It’s been a very, very difficult season,” Fullkrug said. “I came here to enjoy the Premier League with a big club.
Now I can, and I’m very happy about it. Let’s see what the season will bring in the end.”
A Nickname That Tells a Story
Back in Germany, Fullkrug is affectionately known as “Lücke,” which translates to “the gap,” a nod to the gap in his front teeth.
But as he gets back to full fitness, it’s clear that he might just be the player to fill a much larger gap in West Ham’s attack—one that has been lacking a clinical, physical striker for quite some time.
A toothless attack may finally have the perfect fix in Fullkrug.
