James Tomkins is battling an ankle injury picked up in a clash with Manchester United’s Maroune Fellaini during the Saturday evening clash between the two sides.
Sam Allardyce is now faced with as important a decision for a game as big as any the team has played this season.
Defeat would see them – after winning four games on the trot – manage to provide the same number of consecutive losses.
An Upton Park source said: “We need to show a lot more adventure against City than we managed against United. I think there will be offensive changes.”