Collins faces month out

West Ham United can confirm that James Collins is likely to be out for four weeks with a hamstring tear in his left leg.

The Wales defender was injured early in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Bolton Wanderers when he went in for a tackle with Johan Elmander. An MRI scan confirmed the injury on Monday afternoon, which means he could miss the next three league games against Manchester City, Wigan Athletic and West Bromwich Albion. He could yet be fit for the international fixtures against Finland and Germany in Cardiff on 28 March and 1 April respectively.

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has plenty of options to replace Collins, with James Tomkins impressing as substitute at the weekend, while captain Lucas Neill, Jonathan Spector and Radoslav Kovac could also play at centre-back alongside Matthew Upson. Young defender Bondz 'Gala, 19, has also travelled with the first team of late after an impressive run for the reserves.