West Ham United’s injury woes worsened yesterday when Scott Parker was ruled out for two months. It is the third time this season that the midfield player has been sidelined for an extended period with a knee injury. Parker was substituted in the second half of the Premier League match at home to Manchester United ten days ago after suffering a knock in a challenge from Cristiano Ronaldo early in the game. His absence is a blow to Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, who is missing eight players.

Parker joined the club for £7 million from Newcastle United last summer, but he suffered a knee injury during the tour to Austria in preseason. On his second match after his return, he limped off with the same knee injury at half-time during the 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal in September. He was out for two months, even though a scan revealed that medial ligament damage was not serious. He has played eight matches since returning in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in November and had hoped to be in contention for the first England squad to be named by Fabio Capello, the new manager, this month. Hayden Mullins will continue to deputise in midfield alongside Mark Noble.

Curbishley is still without Kieron Dyer, who will miss most of the season with a broken leg, but there is better news elsewhere, with Craig Bellamy and Bobby Zamora, who has been out since August with a knee injury, expected to start training soon. Bellamy, the forward, has not played since the end of October, shortly after he returned from a groin operation.

“I thought I would be back playing by now and I have already missed half a season so I am just desperate to get back,” Zamora said. “If getting in early and doing a bit extra means that, then I am happy to do it. It is has been frustrating but it is part and parcel of football, so you take it on the chin, work hard and get back as soon as you can.”