Injury briefing: West Ham goalie Lukasz Fabianski on brink of return

Lukasz Fabianski pushing for Boxing Day return

West Ham's scheduled fixture at home to Liverpool has been postponed due to the Reds' Club World Cup commitments and the free weekend may be a blessing for the Hammers, who are facing a Christmas goalkeeper crisis with Lukasz Fabianski and David Martin nursing hip injuries.

Martin tore a hip muscle during West Ham's 1-0 success at Southampton on Saturday and is rated a major doubt for the Hammers' Boxing Day clash at Crystal Palace.

However, Martin has revealed that Fabianski might not be far away from returning.

He said "Lukasz is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and he showed that last year. I don't think he's too far away now."

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini must be hoping that Martin is right because the alternative, handing a recall to Roberto, is not something he will be keen on.

Roberto has made several calamitous errors this season and looked a bag of nerves during last month's 3-2 loss at home to Tottenham.

West Ham have conceded 18 goals in the seven matches he has started this term.

Huddersfield Town shredded by injury crisis

Huddersfield are finding it difficult to climb away from the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone and manager Danny Cowley is hoping for an improvement on the injury front to boost their chances of a positive Christmas and new year period.

Four first-team regulars (Fraizer Campbell, Alex Pritchard, Jaden Brown, Lewis O'Brien) missed Saturday's 1-1 draw at Wigan and Steve Mounie (illness) was only fit enough to be among the substitutes.

After the match Cowley said: "It's incredibly frustrating. You feel like you're trying to manage with your hands tied behind your back."

All four are thought to be short-term injuries and Cowley is hopeful that some of them may be in contention for Saturday's home match against Nottingham Forest.

Mixed news for Bristol Rovers

It has been a tough week for Bristol Rovers, who reluctantly agreed to allow manager Graham Coughlan to leave for Mansfield, and they could be without their top scorer, Jonson Clarke-Harris for Saturday's clash at home to promotion rivals Peterborough.

Clarke-Harris has suffered recurrence of the calf injury which sidelined him for the whole of October and he is a major doubt to face the Posh.

However, Rovers coped without Clarke-Harris last weekend, winning 2-1 at Ipswich with goals from strikers Tyler Smith and Tom Nichols.

The Pirates will be hoping for another big impact from their front two and should be stronger in midfield with Abu Ogogo back from a ban.

Three back for Burton Albion

Burton have had a lot of injury problems this season but had some better news at the weekend with defender John Brayford, left-back Reece Hutchinson and attacker Oliver Sarkic returning to the bench for the 2-0 loss at Wycombe.

Brewers manager Nigel Clough explained that none of the trio were fit enough to start but he may take a different decision when his team take on Rochdale at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday.

Clough will appreciate the extra options although he will be without utility man John-Joe O'Toole and midfielder Stephen Quinn, who are serving suspensions.

On-loan Everton winger Nathan Broadhead missed the Wycombe game with a hamstring injury and will need to be assessed.

Morecambe facing defender shortage

Morecambe have the worst defensive record in Sky Bet League Two with 39 goals conceded and their rearguard will be weaker than usual for their home clash with Newport as centre-backs Sam Lavelle and Ritchie Sutton are serving suspensions.

Sutton serves a one-game ban after his red card in Saturday's 3-0 loss at Plymouth while Lavelle is two matches into a four-game ban for his dismissal in a 5-0 defeat to Crewe last month.

Steven Old is the only senior centre-back available to Derek Adams, who may have to ask midfielder Alex Kenyon to play in a deeper role.

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