West Ham United Football Club News

• Nickname:Hammers
• Founded:1895
• Manager:Sam Allardyce

• Ground:Upton Park
• Capacity:35,595

Injury boost for Hammers

16 Nov 2007 - 16:31:56

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West Ham defender George McCartney has provided manager Alan Curbishley with a fitness boost after shrugging off an ankle problem.

McCartney limped out of last weekend's 5-0 thrashing of Derby County with an ankle problem which saw him join the Hammers' lengthy injury list.

Curbishley is currently without 12 first-team players including Dean Ashton, Scott Parker and Freddie Ljungberg, but McCartney has provided a timely boost by being passed fit to face Tottenham in their next match on November 25.

"The ankle has settled down nicely, it is not as bad as we first thought," head physiotherapist George Cooper told the club's official website.

"He should begin training next week and be in contention for Spurs."

Meanwhile, midfielder Lee Bowyer has returned to Upton Park in encouraging condition following a recent hernia operation in Germany.

"He is already walking around which is a very good sign that things went well," added Cooper.

"He will begin light running on Monday - building up to full speed throughout the week - then will begin full training the following Monday."