Saturday 20 October 2018 19:12, UK
Manuel Pellegrini hinted Andriy Yarmolenko could be set for a spell on the sidelines after the Ukrainian was forced off with an ankle injury in the first half of West Ham's 1-0 defeat to Tottenham at the London Stadium on Saturday.
Shortly before half-time, Yarmolenko went down in agony inside Spurs' penalty box and worryingly he did not receive contact from any player as he sustained the injury, with his studs appearing to catch in the turf.
Yarmolenko he appeared to be in some discomfort as he was stretchered off the pitch and Pellegrini admitted that losing the 28-year-old would be a big blow given West Ham are already without a number of midfield players through injury.
"We'll see tomorrow after the medical examination, probably he has something wrong with his ankle but we will see what kind of injury it is," Pellegrini said post-match.
"It's a pity because we have five players with long-term injuries - [Manuel] Lanzini, [Jack] Wilshere, [Andy] Carroll, Carlos Sanchez and now we could have Yarmolenko.
"Four of them are midfielders so it's not easy but we have to continue working with the players we have."
Erik Lamela's goal condemned West Ham to a sixth Premier League defeat of the season but they certainly had their chances to earn at least a point, with Marko Arnautovic forcing three good saves from Hugo Lloris.
Despite losing the game, Pellegrini insisted he was "proud" of his players and happy with the way they played, particularly in the second half.
"I think it was a very close game in the first half, both teams played well but in the second it was completely us, we created chances but we couldn't score.
"Lloris made three very important saves, that is his job that's why he is the goalkeeper of Tottenham. I'm very proud of my team, that is the way we need to play.
"Nobody is happy with the result but I think everyone values the way we are playing."
