WHILE Matty Upson and Luis Jimenez are expected to be fit in time for Sunday s daunting home clash with Chelsea, the prospects for young striker Zavon Hines seem much bleaker. The 20-year-old, who has made such an excellent impact in the team this season,

WHILE Matty Upson and Luis Jimenez are expected to be fit in time for Sunday's daunting home clash with Chelsea, the prospects for young striker Zavon Hines seem much bleaker.

The 20-year-old, who has made such an excellent impact in the team this season, came off at half time against Manchester United struggling with a knee injury.

It has taken until this week for the England under-21 international to be assessed, but the prognosis does not look good, and he is likely to be out for months, rather than weeks.

It is another blow for manager Gianfranco Zola, who has been left with just one striker in Guillermo Franco.

There is the possibility of bringing in a new striker in the January transfer window, but that may mean the return of loan signing Jimenez to Italian side Inter Milan.

The Chilean has failed to make an impression since his arrival in the summer and he has only a couple of weeks to prove that he is worth keeping until the end of the season.