Winston Reid will continue with a special training routine as he continues his progress back to the Hammers first tea.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini  and the medical team have put a regime in place which should see him back in the squad hopefully by next month and Reid too is confident that things are progressing as they should.

Questioned by reporters on the situation the boss said: “He has a special way to return, the doctors and he also have experience of that. He is acting in the way the doctors want him to.

We will see how he reacts. Now he needs to play a complete game and as soon as he can he can start working with the first squad.”

Reid is delighted to have made his return to action for the Under 23s this week telling West Ham TV “Obviously it’s well-known that I’ve been out for a long time, so it’s just nice to get back out there and play again.

“It was just a bad injury, and that’s what happened I guess. It’s taken a lot longer [to recover] than we first anticipated, but we finally got there in the end. This was sort of a step on the way really, and we reckon it’ll be normal from now on.”

He is now looking forward to the challenge of resuming training at the right level of intensity adding “It’s back to normal for me. Training, obviously, when you’ve been out for a while takes time, and I understand that.

“I’ll probably be heading away on international duty, and then getting back into it, trying to find the right balance of training as much as possible and also when to step back from it. 

“I’m just relieved I’m getting back into training and playing with the guys again.”

Reid will now hope to make his return on the international stage by linking up with New Zealand for a friendly with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on 14 November.

No praise is high enough for the player although the various predictions of his return became frustrating at one time. However, his return against Wolfsburg B undoubtedly put many minds at rest after fears among some that it may be career over.

At 31, Reid still has much to offer once he is 100 per cent fit and back to his very best and could save the manager serious money in the next transfer window.