The long-term injury suffered by summer signing Carlos Sanchez has left West Ham United light on quality midfield depth.

Manuel Pellegrini may be considering bolstering his squad in this part of the pitch during the current January transfer window. Transfer rumours linking the Hammers with the likes of Gary Medel (Milliyet) and James McCarthy (The Daily Mail) suggest that the Chilean coach is after some additional steel in the middle of the park.

On the chalkboard

19-year-old Declan Rice is currently doing an exemplary job at the base of the Irons’ midfield. However, there is a lack of available first-team cover for the teenager at the London Stadium.

American Soccer Fan is back! You should check out the video below but Southampton fans should look away now...

So integral is this position to the system that Pellegrini’s side plays that the manager must find a solution to this lack of depth soon.

That solution could well be an internal one though, and this weekend’s FA Cup Third Round clash with Birmingham City should give Pellegrini an opportunity to test if West Ham academy ace Conor Coventry has what it takes to play a back up role to Rice.

The next Rice?

The 18-year-old has regularly impressed for the East London club’s academy sides and at various youth levels for the Republic of Ireland national team. In September, he made his senior West Ham debut against Macclesfield Town in a League Cup clash.

This weekend’s meeting with the Blues is a great chance for Coventry to build on that outing and prove his potential quality. The youngster could even be the next Rice in the making.