Billy McKinlay is being linked with a return to West Ham.

The London Evening Standard says Hammers boss David Moyes is now searching for a new assistant after it was confirmed that Alan Irvine would be stepping back from his full-time role at the club.

The 62-year-old, who has made the decision to reduce his role to a consultancy level because of personal reasons with his family still based in the north, was Moyes's No2 at Everton and during his first spell at West Ham while he also stepped up while the Hammers boss was suffering from coronavirus and isolating.

Kevin Nolan, Xavi Valero, Paul Nevin and Stuart Pearce are all set to stay on and will sign new contracts alongside Moyes next week.

McKinlay, who worked at West Ham during Moyes's first spell and alongside the Scot at Real Sociedad, is a contender to return to the staff this summer.