Carlton Cole is due to undergo scans on his knee after suffering a twist, along with a shin injury, in the 5-3 win over Burnley on Saturday. The striker was replaced at half-time in the game having scored a first-half penalty – his seventh goal of the season. Gianfranco Zola suggested that the striker may have suffered ligament damage but we can’t be sure until the scan results are in…

“He twisted it (knee) a little bit, and the shin, but we will find out more after a scan…If it is ligaments, it could be a while, but it is very difficult for me to say, so fingers crossed.”

Cole suffered a hamstring injury earlier this month which saw him miss the home game with Everton. West Ham lost that game 2-1, underlining the importance of the striker to Zola’s men. The World Cup wannabe has been prolific at Upton Park, scoring 5 of his 7 goals in home games.

We’re likely to hear on the extent of the injury in the next 24 hours, although Cole must already be a doubt for the home clash with United next weekend. That will likely see Hines given the opportunity to start against the Champions and, should Cole be absent for a number of weeks, it would again raise Hines’ prospects as a budget fantasy purchase. With both United and Chelsea in the next four however (plus tricky trips to Birmingham and Bolton), it seems unlikely that many fantasy managers will be looking to Zola’s men to fill their forward line.