West Ham United manager David Moyes has shared an update as exciting young defender Harrison Ashby returns to the grass after injury.

The Lowdown: Ashby exit on the cards?

The 20-year-old has been repeatedly linked with a move away from east London, coming after Premier League rivals Newcastle United reportedly held an interest in signing him before the transfer window closed.

Ashby has just under 12 months remaining on his current West Ham deal, and while owners GSBK (Gold, Sullivan, Brady and Kretinsky) wish to tie him down, reports suggest that it's unlikely he'll sign and that could run down his contract ahead of moving next year (Claret & Hugh).

Amid these claims, there are question marks surrounding the starlet's recent absence from Moyes' squad, but the Scotsman has now explained why Ashby has not been featuring lately.

The Latest: Moyes shares Ashby update...

The Scotsman claimed (via football.london) that the West Ham full-back has been nursing an injury, explaining the real reason why Ashby hasn't been named in any of his recent starting XI.

Moyes revealed: “Harrison had a groin strain and in truth, if he had been available and with us, we would’ve tried to get him some minutes because we’ve only really had Vladimir Coufal in that area at the moment with us because of Ben Johnson’s injury.

“Harrison is fine. Before we left, I saw him, he was back trying to start his rehab and he was back on the grass but he’s still slightly feeling it, so that is the reason he wasn’t in the squad or even with us.”

The Verdict: Good news...

Ashby recovering from a groin injury, with his absence unrelated to those Newcastle links, could come as some good news.

While it is unclear when the Scotland under-21 international will return to full contention, it may be soon judging by this update from Moyes and the claim that he is now back on the grass.

Dubbed a 'top player' by West Ham’s under-23 head coach Mark Robson, it will hand the Irons manager a big boost to eventually call upon Ashby amid an injury to another exciting young right-back in Ben Johnson.