West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a horror facial injury in Saturday’s win against Nottingham Forest.
Manager David Moyes confirmed that the Poland international has a suspected broken cheekbone and eye-socket after colliding with Forest centre back Felipe midway through the second half of their 4-0 win.
And the club are now consulting a surgeon’s report before deciding whether to operate or allow the injury to heal naturally.
“[He’s] got a fractured cheekbone and an eye-socket,” Moyes said ahead of Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth round tie away to Manchester United. “We don’t quite know whether it’ll be operated on or healing itself, or a time-span at the moment.”
Fabianski, 37, is out of contract in the summer - though there is an option to extend the deal by a year - and Moyes said with no timescale on a return his absence is “huge” for both the player and club.
The Scot added: “I’m waiting [to hear what happens next], I couldn’t give you an answer, we’ve had the surgeons report back but I think there’s a decision to make as to whether it’s surgery or natural healing.
“We think that he’s fractured his cheekbone and eye-socket. Huge for us and obviously huge for the goalkeeper as well. The stage of the career for him as well.”
The injury means France international Alphonse Areola will be given a sustained run in the team. He has made only two starts all season, in the cup competitions, on top of three substitute appearances in the league.
Full back Vladimir Coufal is also ruled out for the trip to Old Trafford due to a heel injury sustained against Forest, while striker Danny Ings is cup tied.
On a brighter note for West Ham, Moyes said defender Kurt Zouma, striker Gianluca Scamacca and winger Maxwel Cornet are all improving following injuries and could feature at some stage.
