Hammers' deepening injury crisis worrying Curbs

8:48am Monday 17th December 2007

ALAN Curbishley was left cursing the club's injury problems after losing to Everton for the second time in four days at Upton Park.

The lengthening casualty list finally took its toll as Hammers exitted the Carling Cup on Wednesday and suffered a 2-0 defeat in the Premier League on Saturday.

Carlton Cole limped out at half time with a hip problem at the weekend, while Danny Gabbidon, Matthew Etherington and Luis Boa Morte were all ruled out in the week leading up to the game.

Curbishley said: "In the space of a week we've lost those players but you can't carry on doing that.

"The most consistent sides outside the top four are Aston Villa, Porstmouth and Everton.

"You could name their team most weeks - that is a big boost when you've got that.

"Ours is becoming increasingly difficult to do that because of our situation. We've got to get a settled side."

Curbishley probably thought he did most of his transfer business in the summer, having made a number of big signings.

But the majority of those additions have rarely featured or have had stop-start campaigns.

The Hammers chief, who has consistently tried to shrug off the Hammers' injury woes this season in light of decent form of late, conceded that he may once again be tempted to dip into the transfer market in the January transfer window to strengthen his depleted squad.

"With so many players not available it is difficult to see where you start but if it gets any more critical then its something we've got to think about," he said.

"I know I can't play them all but you can strengthen the squad.

"A lot of that is keeping people fit but we've been unable to do that which is so frustrating for everybody.

"When they (the injured players) come back I'll have more headaches than I have now.

"I can't ask any more of the players with the way they're working.

"For me, I'm getting as much as I can out of them but we need that bit of quality at either of the pitch, and it is telling a little bit."

As was the case on Wednesday, it was Everton's Yakubu who proved to be the Hammers undoing.

The powerful Nigerian forward - who scored an 88th minute winner in the Carling Cup meeting between the two sides in midweek - opened the scoring on Saturday on the stroke of half time.

England forward Andy Johnson, on as a late substitute, sealed the win in injury time.

"It is a tough result to take because we've matched Everton in most departments," Curbishley said.

"We started off well and had a couple of glorious chances but didn't take them.

"On another day if we'd scored first we may have gone on to take the points.

"Everton will be delighted to have come out on top in both games."

He added: "I can assure everybody that we will pick it up against Middlesborough next week."