West Ham keen to recruit defender

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce feels he must try and sign a defender in the January transfer window.

Allardyce was dismayed by the way his side played in the 3-0 loss away at Sunderland. The Hammers boss saw his problems increase as defender James Collins was forced to leave the field at the Stadium of Light.

“He [Collins] has a hamstring injury and it’s a bitter blow to us,” said Allardyce.

“We might have to take a look at the market and see if there is someone who can help us on the defensive side.

“Watching our performance today in defence we were inept.”

Allardyce revealed that he had made attempts to add a defender to his squad in January.

“I have already been trying and trying for the last 10 days to secure a defender  but have not managed to do so,” he added.

“But we have to keep looking particularly now with the injury to Collins.”

Allardyce also dismissed newspaper reports that he had given permission for striker Carlton Cole to leave Upton Park.

“I haven’t told him he can leave so I don’t know who has told him that he can,” stated the Hammers manager.