West Ham will be looking for defensive midfield cover in the January transfer window with manager Manuel Pellegrini ready  to bring in a replacement for Carlos Sanchez who has been ruled out for the season.

Although Declan Rice has slipped into the role superbly well, the club still believe they need extra bodies to guard against further injury in the position whilst providing more competition in a key area of the pitch.

The current midfield three of Rice, Obiang and Noble appeared after the defeat by Wolves when all three had been named as subs during the late 1-0 defeat.

And an injury to any of those, who have played the last four league games together, would provide a major headache for the boss.

Were injury to strike ahead of January a pre-January an emergency solution could see Ryan Fredericks return to right back with Zaba switching to a role in front of the back four.

The return of Jack Wilshere could provide an answer but he is more likely to be moved further forward forward where he is generally at his most effective.

Robert Snodgrass is of course available but he is another  who likes to get forward and in the absence of any other genuine holding player, Pellegrini and Mario Husillos are looking at candidates with scouting net being spread into Europe and South America.

The manager is also looking closely at his left back position where Aaron Cresswell has been out of favour whiclst question marks have arisen over Arthur Masuaku’s form.