Stuart Downing joins West Ham's injury list

Stewart Downing may not play for three weeks (AFP/Getty Images)

Stewart Downing may not play for three weeks, after the West Ham winger suffered a leg injury in Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat by Stoke City.

Downing was making only his fourth appearance for the club since his £6m summer transfer from Liverpool but ended up in hospital after the match.

His absence leaves the West Ham manager Sam Allardyce in a quandary, as he is already missing Joe Cole, while Ricardo Vaz Te has expressed his desire to leave.

Allardyce said after the game that the chances of buying more players were “slim” unless he also sells. “We roll with what we’ve got unless something happens going out,” Allardyce said.