Allardyce concerned over rushing Jack Collison back from injury

By Nick Wright Friday, December 14, 2012
1:37 PM

Sam Allardyce says West Ham’s injury crisis could force him to rush midfielder Jack Collison back into action sooner than he would like after George McCartney became their latest casualty.

24-year-old Collison has not featured for West Ham since undergoing knee surgery in the summer but recently returned to training as he nears a return to match fitness.

Despite the Wales international’s encouraging progress, Allardyce is fretting over a major shortage of options, with Andy Carroll, Mohamed Diame and Yossi Benayoun among those sidelined as well as McCartney.

Allardyce says he would like to give Collison two weeks of full training before calling on him for competitive action but admits the situation is getting desperate.

“Jack is training but not available to play,” he said ahead of Sunday’s clash against West Brom.

“He has been out of the game since the end of last season so it will be at least two weeks before we really should consider him, unless we become absolutely desperate on our injury front which is looking a little bit like that.

“I want to try and resist at all costs throwing Jack into the fray and risking another injury but I may be so desperate I might have to do that.”

The Hammers face Reading in just over a fortnight’s time, but with Everton and Arsenal to come after this weekend’s trip to West Brom, Collison could feature sooner rather than later.