West Ham: Fit-again George Earthy remains out of contention under Nuno Espirito Santo | OneFootball

Young midfielder is back to full fitness after an injury

West Ham midfielder George Earthy is not yet being considered for first-team involvement, despite returning to training after a hamstring injury.

The 21-year-old has featured for West Ham’s Under-21s in recent weeks and is regularly training with the first team again after more than a month out.

However, after an injury-hit start to the season, Nuno Espirito Santo is not prepared to risk the midfielder, who missed the majority of pre-season with an ankle ligament injury.

Nuno will be without Lucas Paqueta through suspension for West Ham’s trip to Bournemouth next weekend, but despite a lack of options to replace the Brazilian, the club do not want to rush Earthy back.

Earthy had been expected to make a push for first-team minutes this season after a productive loan spell at Bristol City, but a disrupted pre-season halted his progress, and he has since struggled for fitness.

The midfielder is, however, still considered an important part of Nuno’s plans, with the West Ham boss keen to give minutes to the club’s academy players since taking charge at the end of September.

Earthy scored and assisted on his return to action against Swindon Town in the Vertu Trophy last month, but said that while he was eager to play more, he understood he would have to be patient following another lengthy spell on the sidelines.

“The recovery’s been good,” Earthy said after the game. “This game was about getting back to match fitness.

“It was frustrating. I’d just come back from one injury and felt like I was getting somewhere, then the hamstring went. But to be back as quickly as I am, I’m really pleased.

“I was always only going to play 45 minutes, just to get minutes in my legs. Obviously, I wanted to play the second half, but you can’t overdo it in your first game back.”