Slaven Bilic is facing a worrying defensive crisis for the crunch match against bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur after the international break.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
The Hammers are sat 17th in the Premier League table, just one point above the bottom three after a torrid start to Slaven Bilic’s second season in charge.
And things don’t look like getting better any time soon if things go to form with a hellish fixture list on the horizon for the next month.
Bilic’s out of form side go to White Hart Lane next to play Mauricio Pochettino’s unbeaten Spurs followed by a double header against Manchester United at Old Trafford, a home game against Arsenal and a trip to Anfield to face title hopefuls Liverpool.
As if that was not daunting enough the Hammers, already sporting the fourth worst goal difference in the top flight, may have to make the short trip to North London without three defenders.
Worried: Bilic and head of medical and sports science Stijn Vandenbroucke
That’s according to the latest injury update from West Ham’s head of medical and sports science Stijn Vandenbroucke on the East London club’s official website which reveals young prodigy Reece Oxford is out and rates Winston Reid and James Collins’ chances as touch and go.
“Two players who were unfortunately unable to link up with their respective countries were James Collins and Winston Reid,” Vandenbroucke told whufc.com.
West Ham United’s Winston Reid
“Ginge suffered a calf injury in the Stoke game and had to withdraw from the Wales squad. He will rehab with us this week and we hope he will be available for the trip to Tottenham Hotspur.
“Winston was injured towards the end of the Everton game. He is working on his rehab at Rush Green, having had to withdraw from the New Zealand squad.
“Reece Oxford suffered a high ankle sprain in training before the Everton game and is currently using crutches as he is in the non-weight bearing phase of his rehab.”
It would not be easy for West Ham going to Spurs with a fully fit squad let alone one low on confidence and decimated by injuries.
Hapless Havard Nordtveit
Without Reid and Collins West Ham would probably be forced to play defensive midfielder Havard Nordtveit – who has endured a woeful start to life at the club since signing in the summer – at centre back alongside another midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate and Angelo Ogbonna.
It once again highlights just how bad a decision it was for the Hammers to sell versatile homegrown defender James Tomkins to Crystal Palace in the summer.
Hammers fans now face an anxious wait over the international break to see that star players like Aaron Cresswell and Dimitri Payet come back unscathed.
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