West Ham United have been boosted by the news that striker Diafra Sakho and defender James Tomkins could both return before the end of the season.
Top scorer Sakho and centre-half Tomkins, who was statistically the club’s best defender before he dislocated his shoulder doing weights in the gym back in March, have both been tipped to feature for Sam Allardyce’s side at some stage in the remaining three Premier League matches.
Giving his regular injury update on West Ham’s official website, the club’s head of medical and sports science Stijn Vandenbroucke had some positive news.
He said: “He (Tomkins) will initially begin full training with the Development Squad before returning to training with the first-team squad. There is a chance he will be available for selection this season.
“Likewise, Diafra Sakho has also received positive news after visiting a specialist for a scan on his thigh this week. He has healed sufficiently to start running on the pitch independently.”
Who knows where the Hammers could have finished up had they kept their key players on the pitch together more throughout what was such a promising season.
But when Allardyce’s side were flying high in fourth, one injury followed another and the squad was stretched to its limit at times, making points hard to come by in the second half of the season.
Allardyce may not be afforded the luxury of resisting using his key men until next season, either. The club is currently vying for a Europa League spot via the Fair Play League and may well have to finish above Everton, their opponents next weekend, to stand a chance of getting it.
Meanwhile, there were also updates on a number of other Hammers players who have been keeping Tomkins and Sakho company in the treatment room.
Vandenbroucke confirmed that Winston Reid is continuing his rehab and is working his way back to full fitness following his hamstring injury, as is fellow stricken centre-back Doneil Henry, who is yet to kick a ball for the club since arriving in January.
Guy Demel (calf) is training individually as part of his recovery and record signing Andy Carroll is ‘working hard’ on his comeback following knee surgery.
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