West ham still battling injury jinx

It’s a situation that has disrupted manager Alan Curbishley’s plans and contributed to the recent poor run of results.

Midfielder Scott Parker, another player who has struggled with injury this term, spoke out to reassure fans worried about the team’s patchy form, which has seen them pick up just four points from their last eight Premier League games.

He said: “I can assure everyone who is involved in and around the club that we are trying our hardest, trying our best to turn things around.

“It has just come at a bad time for us.

“We are having a bit of a blip but we just need to rally round and try and pick up a result for the next game.”

That next game sees rock-bottom Derby County visit Upton Park on Saturday (April 19), a game the Irons will be expected to win with ease.

One positive is that Swedish star Freddie Ljungberg could make a surprise return to the team to face the Rams, with the hamstring injury he picked up against Sunderland not as bad as first feared.

He said: “The injury was a little weird, especially since it was quite painful.

“It was quite hard for the medical team to diagnose, but I’ve been told it was an inflamed nerve. Thankfully, I am getting back to full fitness very quickly.

"Luckily, the hamstring is not injured, which is great. It’s likely I will be ready this coming week and available for selection for this week’s game.

“I am lucky it wasn’t a hamstring injury, and I have been told that the extra work I put in this winter, in the gym, is the reason I am in good shape.”

simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk