West Ham United’s attacking problems have worsened with new signing Enner Valencia set to miss their opening two Premier League fixtures, co-owner David Sullivan said yesterday.

Valencia joined West Ham from Mexico’s Pachuca last month, having scored all three of Ecuador’s goals at the World Cup finals in Brazil.

The 24-year-old is not expected to be fit for the season opener at home to Tottenham on August 16 and the trip to Crystal Palace a week later.

“The player we’ve spent the most money on, Enner Valencia, is our big summer signing and he is about two or three weeks away from being able to play, because he was at the World Cup,” Sullivan said.

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