West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce will be without seven players for tomorrow’s crucial Premier League game against Sunderland and two more are doubtful ahead of the game.

The Black Cats sit bottom of the table and have only taken eight points from their 15 matches this season.

Allardyce’s side are 17th in the division and have won just one of their last eight league matches.

Speaking on the number of players that could be absent, the Hammers manager told the club’s website yesterday: "I've bought a list in with me because I've got that many [out] today. We've got a couple off sick but we think they'll be ok, James Collins and Guy Demel.

“Obviously the ones who are definitely out are Winston Reid, Stewart Downing, Andy Carroll, Mladen Petric, Ricardo Vaz Te and Kevin Nolan who's suspended.

“We're not in a great place for selection purposes particularly with this December programme we've got, with Wednesday as well as Saturday and then Manchester United the following Saturday.”