West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce has revealed that Diafra Sakho is expected to be back in action this weekend after recovering from a shoulder injury.

The striker, who has scored seven goals in eight games this season, was forced to miss Saturday's 2-2 draw at Stoke City with the problem.

However, Allardyce is confident that the 24-year-old will be back in action for the Hammers' clash with Aston Villa at Upton Park.

"We think Sakho will be back for the next game," he told the club's official website. "We don't think the shoulder is going to be too long.

"There's no dislocation; it's a cartilage problem so it's bruised and the pain is still pretty tender but it's getting better every day and hopefully he'll be back for Aston Villa. If not, we have to cope with it and after that it's the international break."

West Ham slipped down to in fifth place in the Premier League table on the weekend following their draw with Stoke.