IT'S a youthful looking squad for the visit of Sunderland to
Upton Park this evening, but the Hammers are boosted by the return
to fitness of Sergei Rebrov after two months out with a calf
problem.
For such a crucial fixture, it is an impressive sight to see the
names of five Academy graduates in the first-team squad - Anton
Ferdinand, Elliott Ward, Stephen Bywater and Mark Noble joined by
Hogan Ephraim, who is the only one of the group yet to make his
first-team debut.
Noble has fully recovered from a jarred knee and will be back
competing for a place in Alan Pardew's midfield, which is
without Steve Lomas and Gavin Williams, who both have calf
injuries.
The absence of Teddy Sheringham will be the most worrying for
Hammers fans, the 21-goal striker unavailable due to a pulled
hamstring he sustained at Brighton. Bobby Zamora is set to replace
him in attack after impressing in his appearances from the bench in
recent weeks.
Pards is set to name an unchanged back-line, with Christian Dailly
and Malky Mackay both out with calf strains. Don Hutchison is
absent due to a knee problem.
The team to face Sunderland will be chosen from the following
squad:
Bywater (GK), Walker (GK), Repka, Mullins, Powell, Etherington,
Reo-Coker, Chadwick, Ephraim, Fletcher, Ferdinand, Harewood,
Zamora, Rebrov, Newton, Noble, Ward.
West Ham United v Sunderland at Upton Park, kick-off 7.45pm.
Live on Sky TV.
Squad To Face Sunderland
29th April 2005