Premier League preview: West Ham v Southampton

18 October 2012 11:29

Southampton will travel to fellow newly promoted West Ham without record signing Gaston Ramirez, who could be out until December.

The 21-year-old is suffering from a severe dead leg that could rule him out for up to six weeks and missed both of Uruguay's World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Bolivia during the international break.

Much of the club's hopes of survival were pinned on the Uruguayan, who signed for a club record 12 million pounds in the off-season, but he had to spend time in hospital due to swelling and missed Southampton's most recent 2-2 draw with Fulham.

The loss will be a huge blow for Southampton, who have struggled in the early stages of the season with only one win and four points compared to the Hammers' three wins and 11 points.

Manager Nigel Adkins should have right-back Nathaniel Clyne back in the squad though after he missed the clash with Fulham.

Sam Allardyce's West Ham have also been rocked by a shoulder injury to striker Ricardo Vaz Te, who has been ruled out for three months.

The 26-year-old Portuguese suffered a dislocation in the Hammers' 3-1 loss to Arsenal at Upton Park and will be sorely missed having played an important role in West Ham's promotion with 12 goals in 16 games since moving from Barnsley at the start of the season.

England international Andy Carroll's role will now be all the more important and it will give the likes of Modibo Maiga, loan signing Yossi Benayoun, Matt Taylor and Gary O'Neil the chance to press their claims for a starting role.

West Ham played manfully in an entertaining clash with Arsenal and were somewhat unlucky to be on the end of a 3-1 loss, while Southampton battled to their draw with Fulham courtesy of two headers from defender Jose Fonte.

Southampton's inability to keep goals out has been well documented and was highlighted again against Fulham.

Defender Jos Hoiveld has the ignominious tag after scoring his second own goal of the season of the club's three and is part of a defence that is leaking an average of three goals a game.

Fixtures against both Manchester clubs, Arsenal and Everton (away) in their first seven have not helped the Saints and compare unfavourably to the relatively soft draw West Ham have been given to start the season.

Southampton's point against Fulham lifted them out of the drop zone while West Ham are flying high in eighth but lost to Arsenal, the only side in the top eight they have faced.

Wins against Aston Villa, Fulham and QPR could prove precious but the real test is yet to come for West Ham.

Southampton won 1-0 at St Marys when the side met last season in the Championship and earned a 1-1 draw in the corresponding fixture at Upton Park, but both squads have changed considerably since then.