West Ham defender Ryan Fredericks has been ruled out for up to three months, The London Evening Standard reports.
Fredericks limped off against Huddersfield Town and initially fans feared the worst.
Their worries have been justified after scans showed that Fredericks has picked up a serious shin injury.
The 26-year-old will now be out until the new year with Manuel Pellegrini’s options looking very limited.
West Ham’s injury list
West Ham’s long-term injury list is growing longer. Fredericks joins several players on the sidelines.
Manuel Lanzini and Winston Reid have not played a minute of football this season after suffering injuries in the summer.
And since the campaign started, they have been joined by Jack Wilshere, Carlos Sanchez, Andriy Yarmolenko and now Ryan Fredericks.
Fredericks becomes the fourth summer signing to pick up a serious injury since moving to East London. And he joins five others who are out for a long period of time.
Andy Carroll, however, is nearing his comeback, having not featured at all this season.
How do West Ham cope without Fredericks?
Although Fredericks was not a regular starter, he provided depth in defence for Pellegrini.
Pablo Zabaleta usually starts at right-back but Fredericks came on against Huddersfield to inject some pace into West Ham’s attack.
Without Fredericks as a back-up, the Hammers are short on options at right-back, especially with Sam Byram out injured too.
And with Zabaleta reportedly considering retirement, West Ham need Fredericks to be fit and proving that he can fill the Argentine’s boots next season.
This could force Pellegrini to sign a new right-back in the January window.
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