West Ham defender Ryan Fredericks has been ruled out of action until February at the earliest after suffering a hamstring strain during the Hammers 2-0 FA Cup win over Gillingham on Sunday.
Fredericks picked up the injury as he chased down Gills attacker Brendan Hanlan having lost the ball further up the pitch. In his quest to get the ball back, he pulled up and had to be helped from the pitch.
MRI scans have shown that Fredericks has suffered what the club has said is "small damage" to the muscle in his right leg and is set to be out of action until early February at best.
Hammers head of medical Richard Collinge said: "Ryan injured his hamstring chasing back late in the first half and was assessed immediately before undergoing a scan.
"He will now begin his rehabilitation and recover, with the plan to return to action before the end of February."
Fredericks injury blow may well force manager David Moyes to have a look in the loan market or permanent for a right back during January with the news that Fredericks is ruled out.
Pablo Zabaleta replaced Fredericks on Sunday as a fullback but is not best suited to the role, while Ben Johnson has been struggling with injury problems of his own this season after having an excellent pre-season campaign under Manuel Pellegrini.
The other school of thought is that Moyes will stick with a back four in which Zabaleta is far more suited, or simply wait it out until Fredericks returns.
Fredericks, who joined on a free transfer from Fulham in the summer of 2018, missed four months of last season with an ankle injury before returning and establishing himself as the first choice right back under Manuel Pellegrini.
