West Ham boss happy with his side’s performance over the last 10 games

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has insisted that his side are on course for automatic promotion, despite seeing his team slip to a third home defeat of the season last weekend.

The Hammers went down 2-1 to Burnley at Upton Park, but remain on their two points per game target which Allardyce has said will guarantee them a spot in the top two promotion places come the end of the season.

“We are where we are because our record says two points a game,” he said.

“Our record says automatic promotion points in the bag based on the last five years.

“This period has been better than the last. We have increased our points tally from 18 to 22 in the last 10 games.

“We have caught up two points on what our first target was – 22 points out of the last 10 games is a really great achievement, considering what we have had to cope with.

“All the injuries that we have had through this period mean we have never been able to pick the same team twice.”

Indeed, the treatment room at the Boleyn is once again a crowded place, with up to six first-team players currently out through injury.

On-loan Spurs midfielder David Bentley has returned to his parent club following surgery on his knee, while long-term absentee Gary O’Neil is still a few months from fitness.

Winston Reid, Sam Baldock and Henri Lansbury are all thought to be a couple of weeks away from returning following their shoulder, hamstring and knee problems respectively, which should give the Hammers a timely boost going into the hectic Christmas period.

However, another blow on Saturday was the limping off of midfielder Matt Taylor, following a recurrence of his calf injury that could see the wide man sidelined for a number of weeks.

“It is a big blow to us (losing Taylor),” explained Allardyce.

“It is another calf injury and it is his third one since he arrived. He says he has never had one before and that is a real worry for us.

“But I suppose every team at some stage suffers the injuries but at the moment that is a bit of a blow.”

Tempted

Allardyce then went on to state that he could well be tempted to dip into the transfer market in January to boost his depleted squad.

“It’s not too early to be looking,” he said.

“We hope to get a couple of players in January.

“We need them at this time of year. It’s not just injuries, it’s suspensions, and it’s the flu season and we could lose more players.

“We have to hope we don’t get too affected, but we will get in the market for a couple of players.”

? One player that the Hammers have signed is 17-year-old midfielder Pelly Ruddock.

The youngster joins from Blue Square Bet South side Boreham Wood after impressing in a recent trial.

It is thought that the teenager will be involved in the development squad this season.