Premier League side West Ham United say injured forward Andre Ayew will commence training with the club's under-23 side in a matter of weeks.

The Ghanaian has been out of action since hurting his hamstring in a 2-1 league defeat to Chelsea, a game which was incidentally his debut for the club.

The 26-year-old completed a three-year move last June from Welsh outfit Swansea City, for whom he racked up 12 goals in 34 league matches in the 2015-16 season.

"Andre returned to France as planned to continue his rehab," West Ham's Head of Medical and Sports Science, Stijn Vandenbroucke, said in his weekly player fitness update.

"He will return to Rush Green at the weekend.

"He has been working very hard on the pitch and is ready for the next stage in the rehab, introducing the ball, passing, kicking and faster running.

"Andre will continue working on improving his fitness levels for the next few weeks before he will join controlled introduction sessions with the Under-23s."

Ayew was initially expected to return in December but the club claimed the Ghanaian's positive response to treatment has put him ahead of schedule.

Club manager Slaven Bilic earlier disclosed that the attacker could return to action as early as October.

The deputy Ghana captain played for French clubs Marseille, Arles-Avignon and Lorient before joining Swansea last year.