Hutchison: October return (AlexLivesey/Allsport)

West Ham's Scotland international was expected to be out until the New Year, but now has his comeback pencilled in for October 27, when the Hammers face his former club Everton.

The Scotland midfielder sustained the injury in February and was not predicted to play in the first half of this season, but he returned to training yesterday.

Manager Glenn Roeder said: `We were probably looking at December or January beforehand, so we will have done really well if we can get him back by the end of October.

`He's ahead of schedule, and the sooner we get him back, the better. He's had two sessions - yesterday and today - and has come through no problems.

`He'll step up from that on Monday and have a reserve game about a week afterwards. He's obviously behind with his fitness, so he's working on football in the morning and the physical side in the afternoon.'

Roeder also told striker Jermain Defoe to forget about marking his 20th birthday with his first England call-up - and instead concentrate on securing West Ham's third win in a week when Birmingham visit Upton Park.

Sven-Goran Eriksson names his squad for the Euro 2004 qualifying double-header with Slovakia and Macedonia on Sunday and Defoe's sparkling performances this week are sure to have forced him into the reckoning.

Roeder said: `Jermain should have no thoughts in his head apart from playing well for West Ham. That should be his sole concentration.

`He needs to give 100% effort to us and allow other things to take care of themselves. He's still young and trying to secure a regular place in our team. So if his mind wanders off to England, it won't help him play the way he has this week.