Premier League: West Ham United striker Marko Arnautovic out until new year with hamstring injury

West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic has been ruled out for a month after pulling a hamstring in Tuesday’s 3-1 Premier League win over Cardiff City, manager Manuel Pellegrini said on Thursday.[caption id="attachment_5691301" align="alignleft" width="380"]

West Ham's Marko Arnautovic is substituted after sustaining an injury. Reuters[/caption]The Austria international has emerged as a key player at the tip of West Ham’s attack this season with five league goals in 13 games and Pellegrini said the club’s other forwards had to step up during a busy run of fixtures this month.“Arnautovic has a muscle injury. He’ll probably be out for around one month,” Pellegrini told a news conference ahead of Saturday’s game against Crystal Palace.“We know how important he is for this team. We know we have to play seven games in December and six games more in January.”Midfielder Jack Wilshere will also miss Saturday’s game at the London Stadium with an ankle injury.“Wilshere is not 100 percent comfortable so he won’t be available, but it will just be for this game,” Pellegrini added.“We have a squad and now is the time for other players to take their chance.”Lucas Perez, who replaced Arnautovic against Cardiff, scored his first two goals for the club and Pellegrini was confident the Spaniard could lead the line.