West Ham defender Winston Reid is set to take a significant step in his recovery from a serious knee injury by playing for the Under-23s.
The 31-year-old has been sidelined since he suffered a freak injury against Swansea in March 2018, when he was knocked unconscious and twisted his knee as he fell awkwardly.
He returned to training that summer but broke down and had to have surgery which ruled him out of the whole of last season.
Reid featured three times in this pre-season but the club have been cautious with the New Zealand international since then. He has been working to an individual training plan to build up fitness and is ready for action with the Under-23s.
The development side’s game against Middlesbrough away on Friday night will come too soon for Reid. Their next game is then Sunderland at home on Sunday week.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini will not rush the centre-back, who is in his 10th season at West Ham and scored the last goal at Upton Park, back to first-team action.
