Hammers face new “crisis” at Etihad

Winston Reid is ruled out of the fixture against Manchester City after sustaining a hamstring injury against Everton.

And the Hammers now travel to the toughest match on the Premier League  programme with a real defensive crisis.

Jose Fonte has been ruled out until next year and James Collins will be unavailable after he came off feeling his hamstring problem for the under 23s against Wycombe Wanderers in the Checkatrade Trophy clash on Tuesday night.

And with manager David Moyes options so limited it looks likely that Cheik Kouyate will be drafted in at the back alongside young Declan Rice and Angelo Ogbonna.

It makes what was looking an impossible job anyway even more difficult as the Hammers bid for something slightly in advance of a miracle at the Etihad.

However, Andy Carroll, ruled out of the clash against Everton, looks set to return after twisting his knee on the training ground.