West Ham United defender Fabian Balbuena is a doubt for their game against Cardiff City on Tuesday, according to the Evening Standard.
The newspaper claims that the Paraguay international is a concern for manager Manuel Pellegrini, with the player having picked up a leg injury.
The Hammers already look set to be without left back Aaron Cresswell after he came off injured in the 3-0 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday.
Meanwhile, 33-year-old Pablo Zabaleta could be replaced at right back due to the high volume of games that the Argentinian has played in a short period of time.
OPINION
If all of these absences turn out to be legitimate then West Ham will end up facing something of a defensive crisis against Neil Warnock’s side. Thank goodness, then, that their most important defender Issa Diop appears to be fit and ready for the challenge of the Bluebirds. Cresswell’s potential absence is an expected one after he limped off against the Magpies, but Balbuena’s injury is more concerning. Not in a physical sense, of course, because it sounds as if he at least has a chance to play, but because of how important he is to this Hammers team. Balbuena and Diop have formed a rock-solid partnership so far this season and Pellegrini would be loathe to see the duo broken up even for one game. Italian centre back Angelo Ogbonna would be the obvious candidate to replace Balbuena if he does miss out, but the former Juventus man has rarely shown the solidity that the Paraguayan consistently brings.