West Ham United defender Winston Reid is set to step up his recovery from injury by featuring for the club's development side.
The Hammers centre-back has been sidelined for well over a year since a serious injury sustained against Swansea City.
As a result, Manuel Pellegrini is keen to ease the 31-year-old, who is now in his 10th season with the club, back into action slowly, according to the Evening Standard.
Reid will not feature in the next Under-23s game against Middlesbrough but could make his return in the following fixture against Sunderland.
The New Zealand international scored the last-ever goal at Upton Park before the Hammers moved to the London Stadium and will compete with the likes of Issa Diop, Fabian Balbuena and Angelo Ogbonna for a position in the centre of defence when he eventually returns to full fitness.
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