West Ham in the Sundays

On Setanta Alan Curbishley bemoans the injury to Craig Bellamy, “He has an abdominal strain and it’s just getting worse as he is carrying on and it’s obviously something that we have to sort out,”

The Sunday Mirror say West Ham have a striker crisis after Craig Bellamy was forced off at half time in yesterday's game against Portsmouth. Manager Alan Curbishley revealed that the combative Wales international has a recurrence of the abdominal injury that forced him to have surgery earlier this month.

He will now have a further examination and joins a list that already includes Kieron Dyer, Dean Ashton, and Bobby Zamora.

The only fit striker left at the moment is Carlton Cole and he becomes an automatic selection for the Carling Cup clash against Coventry City this week.

"It is a problem but we just have to get on and deal with it," said manager Alan Curbishley, "there is nothing we could have done because they are impact injuries."

The Observer says West Ham remain keen on Reading fullback Nicky Shorey. West Ham are unlikely to recruit in January's transfer window, other than bidding for an additional striker and perhaps Reading's England left-back, Shorey.

The club are more intent on off-loading some of the players signed during the summer, as there are concerns over the number of injuries some have picked up. Craig Bellamy, Freddie Ljungberg, Nolberto Solano, Kieron Dyer, Scott Parker and Julien Faubert all joined then.

The News of the World says that West Ham are ready to test Everton's resolve by making a £9million bid for Andy Johnson. If a cash bid does not work they might even throw defender Anton Ferdinand into the deal.

Curbishley is a long time admirer of Andy Johnson who has struggled with form and fitness this season. David Moyes, who paid £8.6million for the England striker, wants Johnson to stay and the club are even prepared to give him a new deal and the player himself has indicated that he is happy on Merseyside's.

But Alan Curbishley sees Andy Johnson as an ideal foil for Dean Ashton and an alternative to the unpredictable Craig Bellamy. Defender Anton Ferdinand is no longer guaranteed a starting place at Upton Park and could form part of a package.

The Star says that Fulham are battling Reading and Birmingham City to land West Ham striker Bobby Zamora. Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez has £4million to spend in the January transfer window and has Bobby Zamora top of his shopping list.

Although Zamora, 26, has been injured for much of this season Fulham and Birmingham city are also keen to secure his services.