Opponent accused over 'reckless' tackle that broke Hammer star's leg

West Ham have confirmed that England international Kieron Dyer suffered a double leg fracture. He was stretchered from the pitch at the Memorial Stadium, and a series of X-rays last night have revealed the 28-year-old fractured the tibia and fibula in his right leg.

A statement on club website www.whufc.com said: "It is too early to say at this stage how long the player will be out for as this will become clearer once the first stage of surgery is completed."

The seriousness of the England international's injury will force manager Alan Curbishley back into the transfer market, with Inter Milan's Adriano top of his wanted list.

Scott Duxbury, the club's deputy chief executive officer, was in Italy today for further talks with Adriano's representatives.

The main stumbling block is that West Ham are seeking a one-year loan deal but the Brazilian, valued by Inter at £18million, is only interested in a permanent move.

The 25-year-old, who reportedly has already been offered to Arsenal, said: "I don't want to go on loan again. If I must leave, I'll go permanently, and that's it."

Dyer, making his first start for West Ham following a protracted £6m move from Newcastle, was injured half an hour into last night's Carling Cup tie at Bristol Rovers.

Cheshire referee Mike Jones blew for a foul but took no further action.

Hammers' team-mate Hayden Mullins remonstrated with Jacobson and other Bristol Rovers players as Dyer received treatment.

"Kieron got away from the guy and he has hacked him down for no reason," Mullins said today. "I told him there was no need for the tackle and for a fellow professional to break another's leg in that way was totally reckless.

"Jacobson said it was just a collision but I'm sure I saw him hack out for a needless reason when Kieron was getting away from him and that's what incensed me. It's a horrible one."

Curbishley, who has already lost the services of summer signings Julian Faubert, Freddie Ljungberg and Scott Parker, also believes Dyer's injury could have been avoided.

"I think the Bristol Rovers player has got to be very disappointed with his tackle because as far as I can see he's lashed out after losing the ball," he said.

West Ham won last night's second-round tie 2-1 with two first-half goals from Craig Bellamy but Curbishley added: "We're so devastated for Kieron. The result was immaterial after that.

"The luck's against us. I'm sitting there with £20m of injured players, and now Dyer. We're treading on eggshells at the moment."

However, Rovers manager Paul Trollope defended Jacobson, saying: "From our viewpoint it was nothing more than a foul. Joe swung his leg back to try and win the ball and that was it."

West Ham, meanwhile, have made an offer of around £5m for Reading full-back Nicky Shorey but may have to wait until the January transfer window.