West Ham have been hit with yet another injury blow with the club confirming defender James Tomkins has suffered a dislocated shoulder.
Tomkins, 25, has recently signed a new, long-term contract with the Hammers but could now miss several weeks having injured his shoulder in training.
He joins fellow central defender Winston Reid on the casualty list, with Sam Allardyce also struggling for attacking options for Saturday's trip to Arsenal as Carlton Cole, Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia are all likely to miss out.
Valencia is a doubt having cut his toe in a freak accident after he stood on a broken teacup and now Allardyce has a selection headache at both ends of the field after the club announced Tomkins' injury on Twitter.
TOMKINS: West Ham United can confirm that James Tomkins has suffered a dislocated shoulder. The 25-year-old was taken for... (1/2) #WHUFC
- West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) March 13, 2015
TOMKINS: ...hospital treatment and will continued to be assessed by the Club's medical staff. (2/2) #WHUFC
- West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) March 13, 2015
Reid, who recently signed a new deal at Upton Park, has a hamstring injury meaning James Collins is the only recognised centre-back available to Allardyce.
Cheikhou Kouyate enjoyed a short stint at the heart of West Ham's defence alongside Tomkins due to injuries earlier in the year -- scoring against Manchester United and quickly adapting to the role.
It is likely the Senegal midfielder will return to that position for the trip to Arsenal, with the highly-rated but inexperienced Reece Oxford another option.
The number of key first-team players in the treatment room will no doubt be a worry to Allardyce, who has seen his side win just one of their last 11 Premier League fixtures.