DONCASTER ROVERS v WEST HAM UTD - nPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP- 13/08/2011 - PICTURE BY STEVE BACON

Hammers defender James Tomkins is battling to be fit for Sunday’s Upton Park showdown against Leeds United.

West Ham centre half James Tomkins looks set to miss Sunday’s Championship clash with Leeds United at Upton Park after hobbling off during Tuesday night’s thumping 4-0 victory over Watford.

The 22-year-old defender suffered a hamstring injury and was replaced by debut boy Abdoulaye Faye after 67 minutes and manager Sam Allardyce thinks he may not be ready for Sunday’s televised game.

“It was a hamstring injury,” confirmed the West Ham boss. “It might not be too bad, but he might not have enough recovery time for Sunday.”

Tomkins opened the scoring after just three minutes at Watford, heading home Matt Taylor’s corner to get the Hammers off to a perfect start. And Allardyce was full of praise for the young defender.

“He’s been outstanding in both boxes and tonight he’s scored one that he has threatened to do in the last two games.

“He had one cleared off the line against Cardiff, had another good header against Doncaster and tonight he’s got the ball rolling by scoring from our first corner.”

With Tomkins struggling, Faye is likely to make his first start against Leeds United, but it brings the question of cover at centre half to the fore, something that Allardyce is monitoring.

“I think we might and could run into problems because if one is injured and then another gets injured we have got little cover in that position,” said the boss.

“But it is one of those things that you have to deal with in the Championship.If it runs through till after the deadline, I have the good fortune in this division where I can use an emergency loan and it may be a question of us using that.”