West Ham United centre-back Craig Dawson is set to remain sidelined for the Hammers’ Europa Conference League play-off qualifying first leg against Viborg on Thursday night.
Dawson has so far missed both of the Irons’ Premier League defeats to Manchester City and Nottingham Forest with a quad injury, despite doing some light training last week.
However, Dawson is not expected to be in contention for the first leg against the Danish side, further adding to the club’s current issues at the centre-back.
READ MORE: Viborg suffer huge double blow ahead of West Ham Europa Conference League clash
“Craig has still got a problem with his quad, he’s missed a few weeks I think," said assistant manager Billy McKinlay. "He’s probably a little bit [sidelined] short-term.
“Dawson was one of three players to miss training alongside summer signings Nayef Aguerd and Flynn Downes."
Aguerd is out until mid-October after undergoing ankle surgery, while Downes missed training as a precaution.
However, McKinlay expects Downes to be okay enough to feature on Thursday against Viborg.
"Flynn has just had a little issue with his toe, but he should be fine. It was just a precaution, no issue with that," the Hammers' assistant boss added.
The Hammers completed their sixth signing of the summer on Thursday afternoon, bringing in defender Thilo Kehrer from Paris Saint-Germain for £10.1million.
McKinlay confirmed that Kehrer was signed in time to have a chance of playing in the first leg on Thursday, having done some training on Wednesday morning.
“I think so, I think he is available," McKinlay explained on Kehrer. "We will see how he settles in and see how he is, get a little bit of feedback from him. How he feels physically and what he has done. Again, that will be a decision that will be made in the next 24 hours.
“He has done a little bit this morning so we will see how he is like after that.”
Manager David Moyes, captain Declan Rice and vice-captain Aaron Cresswell will however all miss out due to suspension.
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