Sam Allardyce: No chance West Ham striker Diafra Sakho will be banned

Sam Allardyce says he has no concerns Diafra Sakho might be banned for missing the Africa Cup of Nations.

The West Ham striker withdrew from Senegal's squad with a back injury but returned to score the winner in last weekend's FA Cup tie against Bristol City.

Sakho defended himself against criticism on social media, while West Ham stand by an independent medical assessment that said the player was unable to fly for six weeks.

Under FIFA rules players can be banned from playing for their clubs if they dodge international call-ups, and Senegal coach Alain Giresse said Sakho's casse set "a dangerous precedent".

But Allardyce, speaking at a press conferece ahead of Saturday's trip to Liverpool, said: "I'm not worried that Sakho will face a ban whatsoever. We have stuck by every rule and regulation in the book."

Sakho's availability and Andy Carroll's return to full fitness means Allardyce has ruled out looking for a striker before the transfer window closes, but his pursuit of Manchester Untied's long-serving midfielder Darren Fletcher remains ongoing.

"Fletcher is still a possibility," he said. "The move isn't dead yet, but we'll see."

The Anfield trip, meanwhile, represents another chance for Carroll to score against Liverpool for the first time since he was deemed surplus to requirements by Brendan Rodgers.

Allardyce said: "I'm sure Andy would like to score at Anfield, but we don't want him to get over anxious about going out to prove anything."

James Tomkins and Carl Jenkinson are "touch and go" for the weekend, according to the manager, who expects to have James Collins fit.