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Michail Antonio closes on West Ham injury return, but David Moyes praises Sebastien Haller’s input

 (AP)
(AP)

West Ham striker Michail Antonio has further stepped up his recovery from a hamstring injury this week as he fights to return against Aston Villa, but Sebastien Haller is finally providing competition.

Hammers boss David Moyes had hoped that the forward, who was forced off against Manchester City before the international break and has a history of hamstring problems, was going to be fit for their win at Sheffield United last weekend, but the Antonio did not make the trip north.

Haller, starting in his place, scored the winner at Bramall Lane meaning Moyes is in no desperate rush bring Antonio back early.

"He's joined in with training a couple of days, we're trying to see how his hamstring is and how he is," Moyes said. "But it's just great to get him back out on the training pitch for us at the moment.

"We want competition for places, I think we've got that now. We've got a few people who are queuing up waiting to try and break into the team and get into the side. So hopefully when they get the opportunity, then they'll be ready but yeah we've got good competition at the moment."

Asked about Haller's form, Moyes said: “His contribution's been – well the three games since Michail Antonio's been out it's been Liverpool away, Fulham at home and Sheffield United away so we're really pleased with what he's done. We want goals from him and we want assists and a lot of good general play so I've got good competition.

POOL/AFP via Getty Images
POOL/AFP via Getty Images

"There will be times when you can play the two of them together and there will be times when we don't so I'm looking forward to having them both fighting but obviously we're very aware of how well Antonio's been playing and how well he's done in previous weeks and months.”

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