Ljungberg close to return

West Ham have had some injury relief after Swedish midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has revealed he is close to making a return. The Hammers have 14 players on the sidelines suffering with injury problems; but Ljungberg will be the first to return for the first time since last month when he sustained the injury against Sunderland.

"The injury was a little weird, especially as it was quite painful," Ljungberg told The Times. "It was hard for the medical team to diagnose, but I've been told it was an inflamed nerve. Luckily, the hamstring is not injured, which is great.

"The extra work I put in this winter, in the gym, is the reason I am in good shape. Despite being in some pain due to a nerve-root inflammation, the hamstring itself is fine and there is no sign of a pull or strain."