West Ham have sent a message of support to their former striker Demba Ba after the Senegal forward suffered a career threatening broken leg playing for Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League on Sunday.

The striker collided with an opponent before his left leg gave way as he fell to ground in agony and, according to his coach Gregorio Manzano, could be forced to retire from the professional game.

Ba spent one season with the Hammers, which ended in the east Londoners' relegation to the Championship, and the club have wished the 31-year-old well in his recovery.

A message on the club's official Twitter account read: "Everyone at West Ham United wishes former Hammer @dembabafoot a full and speedy recovery from injury."