Central defender Calum Davenport returned from England U-21’s international against Azerbaijan with a slight strain and may miss the London derby.
With Andy Melville, Anton Ferdinand, Christian Dailly and Malky Mackay currently injured Alan Pardew is short of options.
Assistant manager Peter Grant told the offical West Ham website he was disappointed but has given some hope for Calum; “It is disappointing but we have to get on with it; it is fortunate enough to get a player picked at that level but injury is the downside of it, for sure.”
”Strains are difficult ones because you can feel great one moment but there is a tenderness there when you are running.”
”So you could feel better in two days or two weeks; some people recover from them quickly and some don't.”
”With Calum it is the first problem he has had with us so it is a case of looking at his background, and we will give him to the last moment because we want everyone available,” added Grant.
”You want to give people as much time as possible - it is no use ruling him out now and then saying, come Saturday, he feels fantastic.”
”So he will get treatment, we will assess it when he gets back, and if he doesn't make it, it will open the door for someone else.”
On a brighter note, Malky Mackay has a fair chance of making the game. The calf strain that kept him out of international duty this week is not causing him any pain.
Malky has still not trained with the squad but there is hope of him doing so before Saturday.