West Ham ace Enner Valencia announces on Instagram he doesn't need surgery, still expected to be out for 'up to 12 weeks'

Hammers given a huge boost ahead of new Premier League campaign

(Getty)

West Ham United forward Enner Valencia has announced on social media that he does not need to have surgery after he was carried off against Astra Giurgiu last week.

The 25-year-old scored for the Hammers as Slavan Bilic's side were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw at Upton Park on Thursday evening before being carried off and given oxygen on the pitch.

Valencia said: "I would like to thank everyone for the support and the affection shown on this difficult moment. Thanks God, today I received great news as I won't need surgery, all the best."

However, according to the London Evening Standard, the former Pachuca ace is still looking at between 10-12 weeks on the sidelines.

The Ecuador international refrained from putting a timescale on his return but the the news will be greeted warmly by supporters of the East End club after a disappointing few days.

Bilic, who at least has Diafra Sakho, Mauro Zárate and Mobido Maïga available for the return leg in Romania, is on the look-out for cover up front as he waits for Andy Carroll to recover from his latest setback.

A photo posted by ESAB (@ennervalencia1) on Aug 3, 2015 at 5:13am PDT

Co-chairman David Gold is quoted as saying that West Ham remain in the hunt for at least two new players and hopes they can re-sign Alex Song from Barcelona.

“I would have thought [we will sign] at least two new players, not necessarily before we kick off but before the window closes," he told the London Evening Standard.

West Ham remain hopeful of luring Alex Song back to Upton Park

“We’ve lost Valencia for the beginning of the season. We were already believing that we required another striker in the squad and we’ll be doing everything in our power to bring in the best players that we can," he said.

Gold insists there is no need to panic as negotiations with Cameroon international Song look likely to go into the new Premier League season.

"We enjoyed Alex Song’s contribution but these things are ongoing. We’re not panicking, we’re not going to do poor deals, we’re going to do sensible deals and I think by the time we kick off we should be in good shape," he added.