West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce admits it is a problem having a number of key players on the sidelines.
The Hammers are currently without the likes of Mladen Petric, Ricardo Vaz Te, Andy Carroll and Matthew Taylor as they prepare for Aston Villa's visit this weekend and the manager suggests there is a slight concern.
"It leaves us with a problem in terms of numbers," he told Sky Sports News. "We're very short of first-team squad players available for Saturday.
"But it's about getting on with the job and using the players available and trying to bring the three points at home that we are looking for.
"At the moment it is a concern for us, especially when November and December comes and suspensions kick in.
"My focus to the medical staff is to get them fit and keep them fit otherwise it will be a long, hard winter for us."
