West Ham are hopeful that Xande Silva could be in contention to make the first team squad for a potential Carabao Cup fourth round tie next month, should they make it past Oxford United in round three.
That would be in the week commencing October 28 with the match likely to be on the 29th or the 30th of the month so long as West Ham win at the Kassam Stadium on September 25.
The 22-year-old star suffered an obstruction to his bowel a week before he was due back for pre-season training in east London and having undergone an operation, had been recovering at home in Portugal having spent three weeks in hospital after his surgery. He returned to London a little more than three weeks ago.
Silva was back in his homeland on holiday over the summer when the obstruction occurred and he was rushed to hospital in Portugal, with the blessing of West Ham's club medical staff, and had emergency surgery in a private clinic in Lisbon within six hours of being taken ill.
Silva lost five kilos in weight after his ordeal over the summer and is currently on a private training schedule as is closely monitored by club staff and is expected to make a full recovery.
Football.London has learned on Monday that club staff are thrilled with progress Silva has made so far in his recovery, not only on the pitch but off it as well as the young striker has moved his sister with him to the capital for support.
The summer surgery capped off a horrendous second half of 2019 for the young frontman so after making his first senior start for the club in the FA Cup victory over Birmingham City back in January.
Silva picked up a hernia problem in the aftermath of that game and was ruled out for three months, returning for the last couple of games of the season for the U23s as they were relegated from Division One of PL2.
The Portuguese striker joined the club ahead of the 2018/19 season from Vitoria De Guimaraes in Portugal for a reported £1.3m fee and got his Hammers career off to a flier.
He netted seven goals in his first six PL2 appearances for the U23s which earned him a call up to the senior squad much earlier than expected and he made his senior debut during the 2-0 defeat away at Burnley in the Premier League on December 30.
With the Hammers having completely overhauled their striker department this summer thanks to the exits of Lucas Perez, Andy Carroll, Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic, Silva could well be a third choice striker behind Sebastien Haller and Albian Ajeti when he returns to fitness.
