West Ham United face a Christmas period without a key centre-back, as Winston Reid is ruled out until January 2019.

Manuel Pellegrini has been unable to call upon the experience of the 30-year-old since his takeover at the London Stadium, as the defender developed a knee injury at the start of March and has been sidelined ever since.

Reid has missed 20 games and counting after picking up the injury against Swansea, allowing summer signings Fabian Balbuena and Issa Diop to make the positions their own.

Further problems to the international captain's injury have kept pushing his return date back and back but at present, Premier Injuries have a scheduled comeback on January 29th away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Big stars are missing

Winston Reid is just one of many key stars at West Ham to be sidelined.

Midfielders Jack Wilshere, Manuel Lanzini and Carlos Sanchez join the defender in the medical room at the club's Chadwell Heath training ground, and Wilshere the only one currently with a Premier Injuries expected return date.

Reid to stick it out in London?

From being the best centre-back at the club to leaving next year? It’s certainly a possibility for Reid if the New Zealand defender is unable to force his way into Pellegrini's plans upon his return, given the lengthy period to shine his absence hands Balbuena and Diop.

Sticking it out with the Irons just to be a bit-part player or backup at Reid’s age does not befit a player of his calibre, having featured more than 200 times in claret and blue.

Reid is certainly sought after, with a recent poll on Football Fancast finding 80% of Celtic fans want the player to join the Scottish side.

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