Winston Reid and Jack Wilshere pictured in the thick of it during West Ham training

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West Ham forgotten pair Winston Reid and Jack Wilshere have been pictured in first-team training.

Reid and Wilshere have both been ruled out for a while but they are closing in on their first-team returns. It is unclear whether they will be fit for tonight’s fixture against Arsenal but both players are in the thick of it during first-team training.

Winston Reid: Defensive solution?

West Ham’s Kiwi defender Reid was once the first name on the teamsheet. But injuries have held him back in the past few seasons and he last played for West Ham in March 2018.

It is coming up to two years since his last outing in claret and blue. He has been stepping up his recovery this season with minutes in the U23 team and while captaining the New Zealand national side.

But is he the man to solve West Ham’s defensive woes? There are many who doubt we will ever see Reid back at his best again. It is a tough ask for the 31-year-old to get back up to speed with the Premier League after such a lengthy lay-off.

Jack Wilshere: Creative spark?

West Ham have been missing a creative spark in midfield this season. Wilshere could be the man to change that but his persistent injuries are becoming increasingly concerning.

The 27-year-old last played in mid-October and he missed most of last season through injury. With just 16 games to his name since his summer 2018 move, Wilshere’s move has been a disaster so far.

Manuel Pellegrini will be scared to rush Wilshere back given his history with injuries. But West Ham might need the former Arsenal midfielder at some point in the near future.