Sam Allardyce Confirms West Ham Close to Two More January Signings

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce expects to make additional signings in the coming days of the January transfer window after making Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Roger Johnson his first addition of the New Year.

Johnson has joined on loan from Molineux until the end of the season having spent the first half of the campaign Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship to help quell the Hammers' defensive injury crisis.

And Allardyce, who was given a vote of confidence by owners David Sullivan and David Gold after West Ham crashed out of the FA Cup following a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, says further new arrivals are on the way.

"We are reasonably close without being absolutely certain," the West Ham boss said. "One can never say we have got a deal until it is signed. It may fall through – we hope within the next few days that one or two more may get linked and signed."

The news that West Ham will be signing further players in the current window is enhanced by the imminent return of striker Andy Carroll, who hasn't played this season due to a foot problem.

West Ham have suffered in front of goal as a result and Sunday's loss at Forest was the 10<sup>th time they failed to score in a game this season but Allardyce expects the England forward to return soon and he could be on the bench for the trip to Cardiff City this weekend.

"He has trained today and will hopefully be on the bench in the next week or so," the manager said.

Despite being backed by owners Sullivan and Gold, Allardyce is badly in need of a confidence boosting win and the League Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City represents the first opportunity for West Ham to get back to winning ways.

Allardyce is confident his side can cause an upset.

"Nobody gives us a chance," he said. "We are underdogs but we believe we can get to Wembley. We don't have the same pressures as in the Premier League. There is a lesser pressure.

"The heavy cup defeat isn't going to affect the players because those who played on Sunday aren't going to play tomorrow except for two or three."