West Ham will go into tomorrow's Carling Cup clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge minus top goalscorer Teddy Sheringham.
Sheringham has barely played in the last month due to what West Ham have described as a thigh strain - and he is unlikely to have recovered in time for Saturday's visit to Plymouth, according to the club.There are also big doubts over Matthew Etherington and Nigel Reo-Coker, who both suffered knocks against Gillingham at the Boleyn last weekend.
Whilst another injured against the Gills - central defender Malky Mackay - is also definitely out of the big London derby, highlights of which will be shown on ITV.
Alan Pardew, speaking on the club's website this morning revealed:
"Matt and Nigel are both doubtful, and Teddy won't make this game. Malky is also definitely out; he has damaged his calf after coming back for a couple of games and doing very well."
Good news however for Anton Ferdinand, who is in line to replace Mackay:
"Anton will come straight back in," added Pardew. "He has the attributes for this type of game because he is quick and there is not so much fed into your box in terms of aerial duels.
"We need to be sharp and lively round the box and that is a strength of Anton's - so I am not too concerned about that one."
In the absence of Calum Davenport and Christian Dailly (also injured), Ferdinand is likely to be partnered at centre-half by Tomas Repka, who has enjoyed an excellent season thus far.
The match also means a reunion for Hammers striker Bobby Zamora and Chelsea defender John Terry, who both played for boys team Senrab in the early 1990's.
"We go back a long way to our youth-team days at Senrab, where we had quite a team," says Zamora. "I'm just hoping Jose Mourinho doesn't rest John - I know John doesn't want to miss it.
"They had Champions League last week and next week so I'm sure he'll rest a few players, but when you've grown up in Barking and all your mates are West Ham fans you don't want to miss a game against West Ham."
Meanwhile Chelsea have just the one injury worry, unlike Alan Pardew whose decimated squad leaves the visitors extremely thin on the ground. Striker Didier Drogba - who could have been a Hammer at one point - is still struggling with a injured groin, so is unlikely to feature.
However Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is likely to offer some of his fringe players the opportunity to impress, which could mean starts for the likes of former Hammers target Robert Huth and the out-of-favour former Charlton midfielder Scott Parker.
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