Tomkins out until April

  • by Staff Writer
  • Thursday, 18th February 2016

Injured defender James Tomkins is unlikely to feature for West Ham again until April according to the club's Head of Medical & Sports Science, Stijn Vandenbroucke.

Tomkins, who limped off midway through the second half of West Ham's recent 1-0 defeat at Southampton with a calf strain is likely to miss all but two of United's remaining fixtures this season, according to Vandenbroucke.

"James Tomkins is progressing well with his treatment after suffering a calf injury at Southampton," he said, speaking via the club's website in his weekly update. "He will be sidelined for five to six weeks."

The central defender, who had been filling in at right back following Cark Jenkinson's return to Arsenal - also prompted by injury - will miss the forthcoming Premier League matches against Sunderland (h), Tottenham (h), Everton (a), Watford (h) and Chelsea (a).

Tomkins will also miss the FA Cup clash with Blackburn this weekend, a potential FA Cup quarter final on the weekend of 12/13 March and almost certainly Mark Noble's testimonial on 28 March.

He should however be available for two consecutive London derbies against Crystal Palace (2 April) and Arsenal (9 April).

Tomkins' injury means that Slaven Bilic is without a recognised right back for this weekend's FA Cup tie at Blackburn, with Sam Byram also unavailable having featured for former club Leeds during an earlier round of the competition.

* In other injury news, Vandenbroucke has confirmed that fellow defender Winston Reid will return to training with the first team squad from next Monday.

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