Winston Reid ‘getting closer’ to return as James Tomkins undergoes surgery

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West Ham’s head of medical and sports science Stijn Vandenbroucke has given an injury update today.

West Ham United are preparing to face Sunderland at Upton Park this weekend, but Stijn Vandenbroucke has told the Daily Mail that there is still some bad news on the injury front.

Vandenbroucke is West Ham’s head of medical and sports science, and has had a fair amount on injury news to contend with in recent weeks.

The Hammers have encountered a number of injury problems in the second half of the season, and problems remain in the squad with just nine games left to play.

Vandenbroucke told the Daily Mail today that centre backs James Tomkins, Doneil Henry and Winston Reid are all missing right now – but Reid is close to making his return to the first team.

“Unfortunately, we have had two setbacks in the defence. James Tomkins underwent successful surgery on his dislocated shoulder on Wednesday and will now commence his rehabilitation, with a view to him returning to fitness before the end of the season,” said Vandenbroucke.

“Doneil Henry injured his hamstring during his loan spell with Blackburn Rovers and, after consulting with a specialist, he will have an operation at the end of the week.”

“Winston Reid is recovering and rehabbing well from the hamstring injury he suffered against Chelsea on 4 March. He is working hard on his fitness and is getting closer to a return,” he added.

Tomkins was expected to miss the rest of the season but could now return in time to play some part before the summer, whilst Henry’s experience-building loan spell at Blackburn Rovers has been cut short due to his hamstring injury.

Whilst those two updates are not what West Ham fans want to hear, the news about New Zealand international Reid is far more encouraging.

The 26-year-old, who recently penned a new contract to stay at Upton Park, sufferd a hamstring injury earlier this month, which means manager Sam Allardyce has been forced to use James Collins and Cheikhou Kouyate in defence – something he may have to persist with for a little while yet, with Vandenbroucke suggesting that Reid is getting closer to a much-needed return.