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West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini has revealed that Andriy Yarmolenko will not return to action before the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

What's the story?

Sky Sports quotes Pellegrini as saying:

"Yarmolenko is working very well, he has no pain, he is running and kicking the ball, but maybe it will be too soon for him to play before we finish.

"The Achilles tendon is one of the worst injuries you can have because you cannot go faster, you must exercise the ligament and then wait. To play this season I don't think would be good for him. It would be better to do a very good pre-season. "If you return after a long injury you get muscle injuries. He must be calm and wait for next season working hard, and we will see the player that we brought because he is a very good player."

Yarmolenko has been on the sidelines since suffering a torn Achilles against Tottenham Hotspur in October, which required an operation.

It had been thought that the 29-year-old could return to action before the end of the season.

Pellegrini has provided a positive update on the 80-time Ukraine international, but has insisted that no risks will be taken with the attacker, meaning that he will not be seen in a West Ham shirt until pre-season.

How has Yarmolenko performed since arriving?

West Ham secured the services of Yarmolenko from Borussia Dortmund in July 2018.

He played in each of the London club's first nine Premier League matches of the campaign, scoring twice and providing one assist.

Both of the attacker's goals came in a 3-1 victory at Goodison Park in September and it did appear that the Ukrainian was just finding his feet before picking up the injury in the league against Spurs on October 20.

There is no question that the Hammers have missed his craft and knowhow in recent months, but having the 6 ft 2 ace fit and firing for the start of the 2019-2020 campaign will be like a new signing for the club.