West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce admits he needs defensive signings after their 3-0 defeat to Sunderland.

The Hammers slipped to defeat at the Stadium of Light with James Collins limping off in agony with a grade three hamstring tear to join George McCartney and Joey O'Brien on the sidelines.

Allardyce said: "The big blow for me is not having enough defenders at the moment. There are too many of my defenders injured.

"We have had too many injuries recently, but the injury situation with defenders with George McCartney not being here, Joey O'Brien not being here and James Collins getting injured today means that the defensive side of our team is particularly weak and short of numbers now.

"I am really going to have to go and try to strengthen that area in the next few days."