ANTONIO IN A RACE TO FACE VILLA

DAVID MOYES hopes to have Michail Antonio back in time for West Ham’s clash with Aston Villa on Monday.

Star-man Antonio, who has scored 11 goals for the Hammers since June, has missed three Premier League games with a hamstring injury.

It was first feared he could face a lengthy lay-off, but the 30-year-old (above) is already back in training and battling to return against Villa. Boss Moyes said: “He’s got a chance of making it, but I still have a couple of days to see how he is and what we think.

“He’s made good progress, we’re pleased, and he’s looking as if he’s on the way back. We’ll just have to wait and see if he’s available.

“He’s joined in with training a couple of days, we’re trying to see how his hamstring is and how he is.

“It’s great to get him back out on the training pitch.”

After the Villa game, West Ham host Manchester United next Saturday in the first Premier League game to allow fans back in.

Moyes added: “I’m looking forward to them coming back and seeing a hungry, positive, energetic team, who have been picking up some really good results.

“Hopefully, we’ll see that clubs can manage it and we can start to get to bigger numbers quicker. Our stadium will seem extremely empty with only 2,000 supporters in.”

Villa boss Dean Smith has tipped 23-year-old defender Ezri Konsa for England and said: “I’ve seen continual improvement from him and a desire to get better. He certainly has the potential to be an England player. Nothing fazes him.

“And he’s one of the best as well in the opposition box. Ezri’s game is coming on in leaps and bounds.”