West Ham are hopeful Kevin Nolan will return for the derby against Chelsea on March 17.
There were fears the club captain had broken his foot following a tackle from Tottenham’s Mousa Dembele in Monday’s 3-2 defeat but scans have revealed a toe fracture.
Nolan will miss this weekend’s trip to Stoke but has identified the Stamford Bridge clash for his comeback date. Fellow midfielder Mark Noble will also miss Saturday’s visit to the Britannia Stadium after suffering nerve damage to his arm.
Meanwhile, James Collins today claimed West Ham’s performance against Spurs has given them the belief they can get a result at Stoke. He said: “It is gutting when you are only minutes away from getting something, but we were strong and that gives us confidence and belief.”
