Hammers relegation rivals Aston Villa have suffered a big blow with No 1 goalkeeper Tom Heaton admitting he’s out for the rest of the season.

He won’t feature at all over the  the midland club’s remaining 10 games with the club kicking off against Sheffield United at Villa Park in one of the first games of the season on June 17.

Heaton suffered a major training ground knee injury and with each of the relegation battling outfits looking for a fully fit squad, and though we don’t wish injury on any player, it may give the Hammers some sort of edge as they go into their final nine games.

He admits that whilst he’s back in light training he has no serious expectations of featuring in the run in with Villa currently marooned in the bottom three and facing a final day game at the London Stadium.

Heaton revealed his problem in an interview with Sky Sports when he declared:  “I’m back out on the grass doing a bit of running and then I am slowly going to build it up.

‘In reality, it’s going to be a big ask to get back in terms of this season.”