West Ham star Diame out for up to 12 weeks

LONDON (AFP) - Senegal midfielder Mohamed Diame could be sidelined for up to 12 weeks after the West Ham star suffered a torn hamstring in Sunday's 3-2 defeat against Liverpool.

Diame was stretchered off in the 73rd minute after pulling up near the touchline and Hammers manager Sam Allardyce is concerned the former Wigan player will be out until well into the new year.

"Not good, it does not take a medical expert to know it is a serious hamstring tear when he falls and stopped the way he did," Allardyce said when asked about the injury.

"I would expect, in medical terms, for it to be a grade 3 (injury) and that could be anything up to eight, 10 or 12 weeks." Diame's absence will be a major blow to the Hammers after his impressive form this season, which included a crucial goal in the recent 3-1 win over Chelsea.