West Ham eye new training ground at Rush Green

West Ham have submitted a planning permission application for a new training ground based at Rush Green.

The club already own the 29-acre site two miles from their current facilities at Chadwell Heath, Essex.

The proposals were presented to Havering Council on Monday morning and a decision is expected early in 2010.

West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury said: "A new training ground with world-class facilities is fundamental to our vision for the next few years."

The planned development of the site, which was bought by the club in the summer, would see three full-size training pitches constructed and a new groundsman's building.

A second phase of development would create four more training pitches, a new media centre and a state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre.

On the pitch, Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola may be without Switzerland midfielder Valon Behrami for around three weeks as he needs minor surgery on a knee injury.

Zola is also waiting to hear the full extent of Carlton Cole's knee injury after the England striker was injured during the 5-3 Premier League win over Burnley on Saturday.

The better news for the Italian is that midfielder Kieron Dyer has been scheduled for a reserve game against Birmingham as he steps up his comeback to full match-fitness.