Academy manager Terry Westley has backed Nathan Holland to return stronger after the Hammers youngster underwent surgery on a hamstring tear on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old midfielder has been in terrific form for West Ham’s U23 side this term, scoring three goals in eight league games to help propel the team into the top four of the Premier League 2 Division 1 table.
Holland has also made his first team debut this term, coming off the bench in September’s 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over Bolton Wanderers, but now faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering his injury.
Westley said: “Nathan has undergone surgery and it has been successful. The surgeon is very happy and now he needs to recover.
“There is never a good time to get injured and he is bitterly disappointed as he will miss out on the chance to show David Moyes and Alan Irvine – two people he knows from his time at Everton – what he can do over the next few weeks.
“But I know that Nathan will return stronger when he is fit to play again around February. He will stay close to the group, and we will send him to games.
“He will watch a lot of football and focus on that side of his development during the time he’ll be off the pitch.”