David Moyes says Declan Rice is getting closer to a return to action - although he admits it is unlikely he will be ready yo feature against Everton on Sunday.
The Hammers go into this weekend's fixture hoping to pile the pressure back on Chelsea, who travel to Manchester City in the latest round of fixtures, when they face Carlo Ancelotti's side at the London Olympic Stadium.However they will almost certainly have to do without Rice for at least one more week, according to the boss. "We’re getting closer because we’re another week down the line," said Moyes during his Friday press conference.
"We’re hoping that we can have him available [again soon], he’s back on the grass and we’re closing in on it. Undoubtedly he’s a big miss to us and we’ll try and get him back as quickly as we can.
"I’m just hoping to have him available [before the end of the season] but I’m not going put any time on it. I’m not trying to bluff anybody but in the same breath, I’ve got to be really wary of it. He is so important for us, we have to get him back as quickly as we can."
And with regards to Rice's fellow absentees, such as Arthur Masuaku and Angelo Ogbonna, Moyes revealed that he is hoping to have at least one or two back in contention for Sunday.
"We're hoping to have some of them fit," he confirmed. "We have another day before we get to game time and we are hoping we can get them back - but I will not put any dates on it or any time scales for when I think we'll have them."
Yet Moyes was buoyed by the return of Michail Antonio, who scored both of West Ham's goals in the 2-1 win at Burnley on Monday night, and believes the forward will have a big part to play in the final few weeks of the campaign.
"He is so important to us and he has been really since we put him as a centre-forward," added the boss. "Since lockdown he has helped us so much; he was roughly the top goalscorer around those last nine games and helped keep us up.
"There have been times when he has been quiet this season but I think that is the norm for most strikers. They go through periods when they don't score or contribute quite as much.
"Mick has been very good, unfortunately, we have lost him a couple of times with injuries but he is back and in good spirit. He looks fit and well so hopefully we can get that to continue right until the end of the season."
Even though he is likely to be without the services of England international Rice and possibly one or two others, Moyes is under no illusions as to the importance of this weekend's clash with the Merseysiders.
"We are in a confident mood and feel as if we are playing well," he said. "We will go into the games knowing that if we have any chance of being in the top four then we probably need to win all four - so that has to be the mindset I am in.
"If we fall short of that then we will fall into the Europa League and that will be great as well. I hope we don't fall any shorter than that, but if we do then we can still talk about having had a good season."
Watch David Moyes' press conference in full below...
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