West Ham defender closing in on return | OneFootball

Nuno Espirito Santo says youngster Oliver Scarles is closing in on a return to action for West Ham.

The 20-year-old underwent surgery for a broken collarbone, which he suffered against Leeds in October.

But he is now set for a return to training, and the Hammers boss says he can help alleviate the blow of losing Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf to the Africa Cup of Nations after Sunday’s game against Aston Villa.

“We’re going to miss them,” Espirito Santo accepts.

“It’s something that we’re going to have to deal with as a squad, and then we have to find solutions inside of the squad.

“We have natural full-backs. Oliver (Scarles), this week is back in training so it’s another option for us.

“But we’ll deal with that after (this game). For now, they are involved in the game.

“They’ve been two players that have been helping the team so we’re going to miss them.”