West Ham star Michail Antonio is set for an extended spell on the sidelines, reportedly being ruled out for up to four months with a hamstring injury.
The 29-year-old suffered the injury during last week’s 2-0 win at Newport County in the Carabao Cup, with Evening Standard reporting that the forward has now undergone surgery and is set to begin a period of lengthy rehabilitation.
Though often deployed in the wide areas, Antonio has occasionally been utilised as a central striker and his injury will come as a blow to West Ham who are light on attacking options.
Antonio’s injury leaves the club with just two senior striking options, after Javier Hernandez was allowed to leave for Spanish side Sevilla in a £7.2m deal earlier this week.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side now just have Sebastien Haller and fellow summer signing Albian Ajeti as fit senior forwards, though the latter is yet to make his Premier League debut since arriving from Basel in August.
West Ham have now added Portuguese forward Xande Silva to their Premier League squad. The 22-year-old has made just one league appearance for the club since joining in 2018 and is currently recovering from an emergency bowel operation.
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