The 33-year-old would have been one of the first names on the team-sheet after leading the line impressively since his arrival and the disappointing injuries to Carlton Cole and Zavon Hines.
He is now set to spend at least the next fortnight on the sidelines leaving Gianfranco Zola desperately short of fire-power up front.
The rumour mill has recently linked the Hammers with a number of replacements but until any potential takeover is completed Zola’s spending powers are limited.
Eidur Gudjohnsen, Nuno Gomes, Marlon Harewood and James Beattie have all been linked with a move to the Boleyn in recent weeks.