West Ham forward Enner Valencia ruled out for up to 12 weeks

West Ham United’s Ecuadorian global Enner Valencia will be missing for up to 12 weeks at the start of the new season with a leg injury, the club said on Monday.

Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke said the Ecuadorean is set to return to action in ten to 12 weeks.

“Enner will spend the next three weeks in a walking boot and using crutches, after which we will start his rehabilitation”.

With the Hammers largely overachieving in the first half of last season’s Premier League campaign, it would seem the West Ham will be looking for consistency.

The 25-year-old damaged his right fibula after scoring in last week’s 2-2 draw against Astra Giurgiu in Europa League qualifying.

He wrote: “I would like to thank everyone for the support and the affection shown on this hard moment”.

While the absence of the Ecuador global represents a blow to West Ham, Gold has backed the club’s other strikers to fill the void, while confirming a continued interest in strengthening the squad available to manager Slaven Bilic. “Thanks God, today I received great news as I won’t need surgery, all the best!” he wrote.

Bilic, who at least has Diafra Sakho, Mauro Zárate and Mobido Maïga available for the return leg in Romania, is on the look-out for cover up front as he waits for Andy Carroll to recover from his latest setback. I am not happy with the result, of course, but this is not as important as the injury. Well, we at FFC Towers have had a look at each star’s suitability, value, availability and goalscoring prowess to ease a decision…

West Ham are confident of receiving the green light to sign forward Raul Jimenez in a move the club also hope will boost their bid to convince Javier Hernandez to move to Upton Park.