Glenn Roeder says he has not set Joe Cole a comeback date.
"Joe has been doing some light jogging," says the Hammers' chief, "but I've almost come to a point where I'm not going to be predicting when he will be back.
"Every time I say something it doesn't seem to materialize; what I will say is that he is in excellent hands.
"In my opinion John Green is as good as any physiotherapist in the country - and I have worked with Gary Lewen at England.
"He is right up there with the very best, and if he was ever asked to work for England it would be their gain."
There is better news for David James, who continues the comeback trail with his first reserve game on Wednesday evening.
It is a remarkable feat for someone who was expected to be out of action until next year, and Glenn adds:
"David is such a driven person; I knew he was very motivated when I had him at Watford at 17 but as he has got older he has become driven for success.
"But we must not let him run before he can walk, if you'll excuse the pun, and having him on the bench at Ipswich was not an ideal situation.
"We don't want any setbacks now we are getting close."
Steve Lomas continues to improve his fitness with another game as well, having sustained a shoulder injury and a chest infection last week.
"Steve Lomas is making very good progress," says Glenn, "and hopefully in the next few weeks he will be available for first team action.
"It is great to have him on the training ground every day hooting, screaming, and giving instructions to other players.
"It is important to have players like that to create the environment you want; you accept some players are quiet but you need people like him out there every day to make the session go on and buzz."
Ian Pearce is still some way away, and Glenn adds:
"Ian broke down in preseason and again during the season and we are not expecting him back until December."
Rigobert Song returns from injury, and the team to face Chelsea reserves is as follows:
James, Johnson, Soma, Lomas, Potts, Song, Newton, Moncur, Kitson, Defoe, McCann. Subs: Riza, McMahon B, Garcia, Britton, Clark.
"Joe has been doing some light jogging," says the Hammers' chief, "but I've almost come to a point where I'm not going to be predicting when he will be back.
"Every time I say something it doesn't seem to materialize; what I will say is that he is in excellent hands.
"In my opinion John Green is as good as any physiotherapist in the country - and I have worked with Gary Lewen at England.
"He is right up there with the very best, and if he was ever asked to work for England it would be their gain."
There is better news for David James, who continues the comeback trail with his first reserve game on Wednesday evening.
It is a remarkable feat for someone who was expected to be out of action until next year, and Glenn adds:
"David is such a driven person; I knew he was very motivated when I had him at Watford at 17 but as he has got older he has become driven for success.
"But we must not let him run before he can walk, if you'll excuse the pun, and having him on the bench at Ipswich was not an ideal situation.
"We don't want any setbacks now we are getting close."
Steve Lomas continues to improve his fitness with another game as well, having sustained a shoulder injury and a chest infection last week.
"Steve Lomas is making very good progress," says Glenn, "and hopefully in the next few weeks he will be available for first team action.
"It is great to have him on the training ground every day hooting, screaming, and giving instructions to other players.
"It is important to have players like that to create the environment you want; you accept some players are quiet but you need people like him out there every day to make the session go on and buzz."
Ian Pearce is still some way away, and Glenn adds:
"Ian broke down in preseason and again during the season and we are not expecting him back until December."
Rigobert Song returns from injury, and the team to face Chelsea reserves is as follows:
James, Johnson, Soma, Lomas, Potts, Song, Newton, Moncur, Kitson, Defoe, McCann. Subs: Riza, McMahon B, Garcia, Britton, Clark.