West Ham's Valencia out for up to 12 weeks

West Ham United's Ecuadorian international Enner Valencia will be missing for up to 12 weeks at the start of the new season with a leg injury, the club said on Monday.

Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke told the club website (www.whufc.com) that there was still "a small chance" Valencia would need an operation.

"Enner visited the consultant on Monday morning, when we discussed the results of the scans he underwent on the injury last Friday," Vandenbroucke said.

"The outcome is that there is now a very small chance that he will need an operation and that we instead hope to treat the injury to his fibula using conservative treatment, which we hope to start in three weeks.

"We will know for sure whether or not Enner will need an operation next week, but if everything goes to plan we hope that he will be available for selection again within 10 to 12 weeks."

The injury leaves new manager Slaven Bilic short of strikers

for the Europa League match away to Astra Giurgiu in Romania on Thursday, which is level at 2-2 after the first leg, and the opening Premier League game away to Arsenal three days later.

(Reporting by Steve Tongue; editing by Martyn Herman)