LAST Saturday’s defeat to Leicester City came with an added cost as West Ham United’s Winston Reid, Michail Antonio and Pedro Obiang suffered injuries.

The trio are vitally important players to Slaven Bilic.

Reid is, and has been for some time, West Ham’s leader at the back while Antonio has played the vast majority of games in several different positions.

And Obiang will prove to be a huge miss for the Hammers.

The Spanish midfielder joined in the summer of 2015, from Sampdoria, just before Bilic took charge and could not force his way into the new manager’s starting line-up.

The central midfield three of Cheikhou Kouyate, Mark Noble and Manuel Lanzini were consistently good last season and it was difficult for Bilic to drop any of them.

But with West Ham’s form in the early stages of the season being terrible, Obiang’s chance in the team came and he took it with both hands.

I think Obiang has been one of the Irons’ best players this season and, at this stage, would be neck and neck with Antonio to win the coveted Hammer of the Year award.

Obiang’s tough tackling, range of passing and calmness on the ball helped West Ham to climb the table just before Christmas.

The central midfielder’s impressive performances have even stopped Kouyate from being able to play in his preferred position for much of the campaign.

Obiang was stretchered off at the London Stadium after rolling his ankle and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

There were whispers last summer that Bilic was looking to sell Obiang, but his displays this term have shown that the Croatian was right to stick with him and allow him time to adapt to English football.

Obiang will be a big miss for West Ham, but he should go straight back into the team when he returns.