West Ham United manager David Moyes has confirmed that centre-back Angelo Ogbonna is set to miss the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The 33-year-old, who had started all 11 Premier League matches for the Hammers this season, was forced off in the 3-2 victory against Liverpool before the international break and he now requires surgery.
Speaking to the press ahead of West Ham's Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend, Moyes said: "We think surgery will take place over the next couple of days and that is really sad.
"[Ogbonna] has done a great job for us, he is a great boy, a great team player. He is someone we love having around and more importantly his performances have been excellent for us so it is a real sad moment for him and us.
"You look at [Virgil] van Dijk and people of that ilk and how long it takes for recovery. There is not a quick return from cruciates, there is a period which has to be taken for recovery time. So I would probably say yes it will be hard for Angelo to play again this season."
With summer signing Kurt Zouma seemingly the first-choice centre-back under Moyes, Craig Dawson and Issa Diop are now set to compete with each other for a place in the starting lineup in the absence of Ogbonna.
It has previously been reported that West Ham could sign a replacement for the Italian in the January transfer window, with Burnley duo James Tarkowski and Ben Mee, as well as Championship pair Dael Fry and Robert Dickie, being linked with a move to the London Stadium.
Oliver Thomas
