By Hughie Southon

West Ham will be boosted by the return of Vladi Coufal following the international break as he closes in on a recovery from groin injury.

The Czech full back has been out of action since the game against Leicester in February and after surgery was expected to be on the side lines for six weeks.

He has been replaced in the meantime by Ryan Fredericks and Ben Johnson but there would be few who wouldn’t believe that at Coufal isn’t the No 1.

We understand the player has been progressing well and that he will be ready to re-join the squad for the game against Everton or certainly Burnley.

He is unlikely to go straight into the starting line-up after such an absence but looks certain to become first choice in the position again over the final games of a season which are taking on a huge perspective as we battle for that top six place.