West Ham have received a huge boost this week as a key player for David Moyes this season has returned to action after a long lay off.

Our Hammers forked out over £30m for highly rated centre-back Nayef Aguerd in the summer, with the defender identified as a key component to Moyes’ plans this campaign. However, and as usually typically from a new highly rated signing, Aguerd picked up a long term injury almost immediately.

The Moroccan injured his ankle badly in a pre-season match against Scottish side Rangers, which resulted in him requiring an operation and undertaking an extensive rehabilitation programme.

The results have been successful though, with the defender very much on track on his recovery, with ExWHUEmployee reporting previously that the club were hopeful that the defender would be back in action prior to the World Cup break.

West Ham today disclosed images showing the signing from Rennes back on the training pitch with the first team, to delight everybody associated with the club.

Although Aguerd still isn’t ready to make his full debut for the club just yet, the news that he is now back on the grass gives confidence that we could be seeing him in the not-too-distant future.

David Moyes in fact was uncharacteristically open and optimistic when asked about Aguerds injury return, stating that his fully expects the defender to be playing in the claret and blue before the World Cup commences in November.

“He is very close,” admitted the boss to the clubs Official Site. “He has started training. He is not fully integrated yet with the [other] players but he is getting close to playing.

“I think he will definitely feature before the World Cup. I couldn’t tell you if that is one week’s time or two weeks’ time because he has had no match practice yet.”