Ljungberg and Parker in boost for Hammers

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Parker, a £7million summer signing from Newcastle, has been out for almost two months with knee ligament problems while Ljungberg has been suffering from a groin injury.

Hammers boost: Freddie Ljungberg has recovered from a groin injury

Both are making good progress and could be back in just under two weeks' time.

Meanwhile, Alan Curbishley today explained the reasoning behind the 11th-hour decision to sign striker Henri Camara from Wigan on a season-long loan.

The 30-year-old Senegalese striker was signed just four minutes before the transfer deadline and it was his blistering pace which finally persuaded Curbishley to go for him.

With serious injuries to Kieron Dyer and Julien Faubert, the West Ham manager was keen to add another quick player to his squad.

Curbishley had been impressed by Camara in the past and when possible targets such as Eidur Gudjohnsen and Adriano failed to materialise, he decided to move for the former Wolves front man.

"Craig Bellamy has been suffering from a groin strain while Bobby Zamora had a swollen knee after the Bristol Rovers game," said Curbishley. "So we had to do something on deadline day.

"We only signed Henri with four minutes to spare. We weren't sure whether it was going to happen but suddenly it all went through."

West Ham's other late signing, the Peruvian winger Nolberto Solano, joined on a one-year contract from Newcastle.

Solano had previously been offered to West Ham as part of the deal which brought Dyer to Upton Park but, at the time, Curbishley felt he had enough cover.

That changed when Dyer was ruled out for the entire season after a double fracture of his right leg and West Ham decided to go back in for Solano.

"Nolberto can play right midfield and right-back," said Curbishley. "I want a solid season. I want us to be on the back pages for all the right footballing reasons this year."

Craig Bellamy opened the scoring for the Hammers at Reading and Matthew Etherington hit the other two.