West Ham’s injury woes were worsened during yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town.
Defender Ryan Fredericks has joined the injury list at West Ham.
Fredericks came on as a second-half substitute but had to be taken off in stoppage time, leaving West Ham with ten men for the closing stages of the game.
Pellegrini on Fredericks
In his post-match press conference, West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that Fredericks has picked up an ankle injury.
Although the diagnosis is unknown at the moment, the early signs are ominous.
Pellegrini said (quotes via Football.London): “Ryan has a twist in his ankle, he cannot walk, so we played the last five minutes with one player less but he told me he couldn’t walk.
“We will see tomorrow with the doctors how bad it is.”
What Fredericks offers West Ham
Although Fredericks has rarely featured for West Ham this season, his absence will be a blow for Pellegrini.
The ex-Fulham right-back has lost his place in the starting line-up to Pablo Zabaleta but he still has something to offer West Ham.
Like yesterday, Fredericks was able to come off the bench and inject some pace on the wings with West Ham chasing the game.
The 26-year-old is settling in and learning from Zabaleta so he is expected to be the Argentine’s long-term successor.
Injury situation
Fredericks joins a long list of West Ham players out with various injuries.
With Winston Reid also out with a long-term injury, Pellegrini’s defensive depth is dwindling.
And the midfield is struggling too with Jack Wilshere, Carlos Sanchez, Manuel Lanzini and Andriy Yarmolenko on the sidelines.
Andy Carroll has not featured this season but could return soon.
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