Hutchison adds to West Ham woes

West Ham United FC could be without midfield player Don Hutchison for ten months.

Ruptured ligament
The 30-year-old Scottish international was carried off with a knee injury during Saturday's 1-0 FA Premiership victory over Middlesbrough FC. A subsequent scan has revealed he has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

'Devastating for Don'
West Ham manager Glenn Roeder has also lost club captain Steve Lomas for up to a month after he also injured knee ligaments against Middlesbrough. But the bigger blow is the loss of Hutchison, who signed in September from Sunderland AFC for €8.2m. "It's a bad injury and one which could rule him out for ten months," said Roeder. "This is devastating for Don."

Midfield hole
With Michael Carrick still three weeks away from playing, the Hammers are now seriously short of midfield cover. Roeder, who has been linked with a summer move for Leicester City FC midfield player Muzzy Izzet, has no money to spend at present so he will aim to bring in a player on loan to strengthen his squad.