West Ham U23 right back Ben Johnson hasn't seen much game time this season thanks to injury after starring in pre-season for Manuel Pellegrini in China and Austria.

His latest comeback on Monday afternoon lasted just quarter of an hour as he limped off in the early stages of the Hammers U23s 4-0 romp over Newcastle United at Rush Green to top the Premier League 2 Division Two table heading into the Christmas break.

But for Johnson, the victory came at a cost as he limped off just a couple of minutes after stretching to make a cross which was cleared, looking disconsolate as he was replaced by Emmanuel Longelo.

The 19-year-old had only returned from injury a fortnight previously when he played 66 minutes of the U23s 4-0 victory over Aston Villa, but was left out of the 3-3 draw with Fulham a week later.

Johnson had suffered from a serious hamstring injury which had kept him out for a couple of months before making his first return against the Villains and had started the first four games of the season, two at right back and two at centre back.

West Ham will be without Ryan Fredericks for the game against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Boxing Day owing to the right back serving a one-match ban after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Southampton on Saturday evening.

(Image: LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images)

After Pablo Zabaleta had struggled with the pacy Allan Saint-Maximin, there were calls for Johnson to get the nod over the veteran Argentine to do battle with Palace winger Wilfried Zaha at Selhurst Park.

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Pellegrini could also play Arthur Masuaku as a right back if he chooses too, or draft in Issa Diop as an emergency right back if Zabaleta's struggles against Saint-Maximin lingers too much in the manager's head.

That said, there are still ten days until the Hammers face the Eagles and they club will be hoping that Johnson, who broke into the first team last season and made his debut away at Manchester City in February and shackled Riyad Mahrez.

The teenager was a regular in the Hammers squad throughout pre-season, playing in five of the six friendlies in Austrai, China and back in England, only missing out for the final match against Athletic Bilbao at London Stadium.