Winston Reid’s absence from the team which was held to THAT draw at Crystal Palace was down to a calf strain which may keep him out of the Liverpool match at the weekend.

Whilst there has been no word from inside the club, the well regarded www.Physioroom.com which charts injuries and reports there is no available return date for the central defender.

They claim he is a “major doubt” and add that as yet there is no return date for James Collins whose availability would be a big bonus given Angelo Ogbonna’s awful form against Palace.

Word is that manager Slaven Bilic wanted to reward him following his performance against Spurs but the manager’s own reward was to see the Italian give away a shocking spot kick when clipping Andros Townsend as he ran away from the goal.

Reid’s injury problems have been a problem for the Hammers who have had to change their back line because of his absences in three of the ten Premier League games this season and could be missing into the foreseeable future.