Declan Rice is set to return to West Ham training midway through next week following England’s World Cup exit.
Rice started all five of England’s matches in Qatar, including Saturday’s quarter-final defeat by France, and, as with all the Hammers’ World Cup players, has been given around 10 days off.
Rice, along with Brazil star Lucas Paqueta, will re-join David Moyes’ squad next week in the run-up to Christmas and, provided the pair return with a clean bill of health, the club are hopeful of having both in contention to face Premier League leaders Arsenal on Boxing Day.
Germany defender Thilo Kehrer is due to report back to Rush Green at the start of next week after Hansi Flick’s side suffered a group stage exit.
Alphonse Areola remains in Qatar with France, though the goalkeeper has not yet featured for Didier Deschamps’ side and Lukasz Fabianski has remained Moyes’ first-choice in the League this season.
Nayef Aguerd, the fifth Hammers player involved in the World Cup, is still at the tournament with surprise semi-finalists Morocco, but is struggling with a thigh injury picked up during the last-16 win over Spain and sat out the quarter-final victory against Portugal.
