Premier League: West Ham wait on Diafra Sakho injury update ahead of trip to Stoke
Saturday 1 November 2014 14:30, UK
West Ham's top scorer Diafra Sakho is "touch and go" for Saturday's trip to Stoke, according to Sam Allardyce.
The Senegal striker injured a shoulder against Manchester City last weekend after becoming the first player to score on each of his first six Premier League starts.
And Allardyce still does not know whether Sakho will be fit enough to continue his productive partnership with Enner Valencia at the Britannia Stadium.
"Sakho is touch and go for Saturday," he said. "We will see what he's like on Friday and make a decision from there."
Carlton Cole would be in line to replace Sakho at Stoke in the ongoing absence of Andy Carroll, who is continuing his recovery from an ankle injury suffered in the summer.
Recovery
Allardyce said: "Andy has to go through what for him is the final part of a pre-season after recovery, and ease himself slowly into games."
Carroll's rehabilitation has been overshadowed by West Ham's form, and they travel north on Saturday fourth in the table having scored nine times in four away games.
Allardyce said: "I've sensed the joy around the camp and the buzz that hits the day to day work around the team when you're doing well.
"I think we're surprised at how well we've hit the level of performance consistently, given now many new players have had to settle in.
"There's only one-and-a-half performances that haven't been up to scratch in nine matches and that's fantastic consistency."
James Tomkins and Matt Jarvis are both fit for the weekend.
