Diafra Sakho has pulled out of tonight’s international between Senegal and Botswana and could be out of the weekend clash against Everton.

The news came just half an hour after ClaretandHugh broke an exclusive story on a growing Hammers injury crisis in which we suggested Sakho had a problem.

And within a few minutes Sakho tweeted news of the problem. We had written: “The most worrying rumour came this morning with the grapevine claiming Diafra Sakho was in a fitness race and if true that could put Andy Carroll into the frame earlier than expected.

We were told: “We hope Diafra will be ok but we certainly expect Stewart Downing to be avaialable after his recent injury worries with England.”

A Hammers source repeated this evening that one or two players were struggling for fitness but declared: “We won’t give up on Diafra. We remain hopeful.

“But it’s clear that Andy Carroll may get longer than was expected if things can’t be sorted for Diafra in time.”