Saturday 22 November 2014 14:14, UK
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is sweating over the fitness of international pair Stewart Downing and Diafra Sakho ahead of Saturday's trip to Everton.
Downing suffered a knee problem and was withdrawn at half-time in England's 3-1 friendly victory over Scotland at Celtic Park on Tuesday night.
Sakho missed Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations victory over Botswana on Wednesday due to injury and Allardyce said: "Obviously we don't have too much time before the Everton game on Saturday so it'll be touch and go. It's a problem every manager faces after international duty.
We don't have much time to work together for Saturday but that's the situation we're in, same as Everton
"Stewart Downing came off at half time with a knee problem as well so we have to monitor that one too. They're two players that have been in top form for us. Sakho's goals and Downing's performances are two of the reasons we're fourth at the moment.
"We need to be very careful with both players because we don't want to take any risks with their long-term fitness."
If in-form striker Sakho misses out, England forward Andy Carroll could be in line for a first Premier League start this term and Allardyce added: "I wouldn't say he's 100% match fit but he is ready to start.
"He's raring to go as is Carlton Cole so we've got very good options up front. We don't have much time to work together for Saturday but that's the situation we're in, same as Everton."
Recent rumours have been circling the Boleyn Ground of possible interest from Manchester United and Arsenal in Hammers New Zealand centre-half Winston Reid.
We have a vital part of the season coming up. November and December is a tough time and it will determine where we finish.
The 26-year-old's contract is up at the end of the season and Allardyce said: "It's an ongoing negotiation at the moment. We want him to stay at the club, he's a great player who has done fantastically well for us.
"The chairmen will notify whenever an outcome, either way, has been reached. Like everything these days it's probably down to money."
But Allardyce is determined that rumours over Reid will not deflect attention from the squad building on their best start to a campaign since 1983/84.
He said: "We have a vital part of the season coming up. November and December is a tough time and it will determine where we finish. There isn't an international break for a long time so we don't have an opportunity to regroup if necessary so it will be a big test for us.
"Roberto Martinez like a lot of us has suffered more injuries than they did last season. So he's had to change around the team a bit, he hasn't had many opportunities to pick his strongest eleven yet.
"But they've consistently been at this level for long, long time. First under David Moyes and now with Roberto. They've had a legacy of getting into Europe, there's a history of that having a negative effect in following games but I think it's better to be in Europe than not."
