New West Ham boss David Moyes has been hit by a huge blow with the news that Javier Hernandez is out for two weeks.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker damaged a hamstring in Mexico’s 3-3 draw with Belgium last Friday and will miss manager Moyes ’ first game in charge, at Watford on Sunday.
Hernandez, signed from Germany's Bayer Leverkusen for £17million in the summer, will also be absent for subsequent matches at home to Leicester and away to one of Moyes’ former clubs, Everton.
West Ham are also likely to be without defender Winston Reid, who is not expected to return from international duty — the second leg of New Zealand's World Cup qualification play-off in Peru doesn't kick off until the early hours of Thursday UK time — until Friday.
Meanwhile, the Hammers could be set for a boost with Portuguese heavyweights Sporting Lisbon ready to reopen talks over a move to the London Stadium for Portugal international midfielder William Carvalho.
A bitter row erupted after West Ham's aborted late summer move for the 25-year-old. It led to vicious insults being traded between the clubs.
But Sporting's president Bruno de Carvalho has now suggested a deal could yet be done.
He said: “There was this soap opera regarding West Ham, but it is not interesting.
“It is not important because there was nothing.
He added: “If we close this soap opera [I will deal with West Ham again]. It is not good for anybody, because the fans deserve better — the truth, our respect. The fans are the most important thing at the club.”