West Ham United could be without six members of their first-team squad – and no recognised centre halves – for the visit of Manchester United on Saturday 7 February.

The Hammers are currently beset by injury problems that forced the club into attempting to make a number of late additions to their squad on transfer deadline day.

A number of moves for reinforcements fell through, however, leaving manager Sam Allardyce to work with a weakened squad for the clash against Louis van Gaal's side.

"The injuries are worrying at the moment," Allardyce told a press conference on Friday 6 February. "I have brought my list with me here: [Winston] Reid, [James] Collins, [Guy] Demel, [Doneil] Henry, [Andy] Carroll, [Diego] Poyet are all doubtful and lie in our medical room at the moment.

"We are not sure how many if any of those will make Sunday's game.

"Obviously with a very busy week very few risks will be taken unless they are 100% fit they won't be playing.

"If I risk someone on Sunday that may increase the injury time, they may not finish that game. We will go to battle with that we have got."

Midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate could be tasked with dropping into defence to partner James Tomkins at centre-half. But with doubts still lingering over Tomkins' fitness following a recent hamstring injury, midfielder Alex Song or right-back Carl Jenkinson could be selected to partner the Senegal international at the back.

West Ham were unlucky to leave Old Trafford empty handed in the reverse fixture in October when United survived being reduced to 10 men and hold onto a 2-1 lead.

United travel to east London with almost a full squad available, a rarity for manager Van Gaal this season. Former West Ham player Michael Carrick is the only notable absentee after being ruled out for four weeks with a ruptured muscle.

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