BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson says West Ham must sign competition for Michail Antonio in the January transfer window if they want to finish in the top four this season.

The Hammers currently sit fourth in the Premier League table after ten matches, but when asked if they are real contenders for Champions League qualification, Lawrenson replied:

“No, and I’ll tell him that to his [Moyes] face as well. I think the problem is, and I think he’s very much aware of this, [is] if you lose [Michail] Antonio, and Antonio hasn’t got the best hamstrings in the world – he has got two, but they’re not the best – he’ll have two or three weeks out but, as Moyes said, the problem with that is he then needs another two or three weeks to get fit. Listen, they’re in every flipping competition aren’t they, which he’ll be happy with, but I know already he’s thinking ‘crikey, come March time, we might have hardly any players’.”

It’s an area of the pitch that West Ham supporters have been crying out for reinforcements since Sebastien Haller was sold to Ajax at the start of the year so Lawrenson is correct in that respect.

However, manager David Moyes does have depth in other areas of the pitch, including centre-backs, fullbacks, midfielders, and in goal so pundits shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss their chances.

With the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Leicester all struggling at the start of the season, West Ham really have a big opportunity to secure fourth, especially if they can strengthen up front.