HAMMERS boss Alan Pardew will be looking for more big performances
from the players that claimed the FA Cup scalp of Norwich City, as
the Hammers travel to Molineux to take on Wolves.
Pards is missing several key players because of injury and
suspension, meaning young midfielder Mark Noble, who debuted so
successfully against the Canaries, looks set to take his League
bow, while Academy graduates Kyel Reid and Youssef Sofiane are
again in the squad.
Bobby Zamora returns after a one-match suspension for picking up
five yellow cards and Gavin Williams is back for this Championship
clash after being cup-tied.
Don Hutchison (knee), Steve Lomas (calf), Teddy Sheringham (ankle),
Christian Dailly (knee), Matty Etherington (groin) and Nigel
Reo-Coker (pleurisy) are all ruled-out of this weekend's game.
Carl Flecther is suspended after reaching five bookings this
season, however is struggling with a knee injury and would not have
taken part.
"We are missing a few players for Saturday," said
Pards. "Matty Etherington has been forced to have an operation
on his groin and will be out for three weeks.
"Unfortunately, it's a recurrence of the problem he had
earlier in the season, which the original keyhole surgery did not
pick up.
"Christian Dailly and Steve Lomas are progressing, but
they'll both be out for Saturday along with Nigel Reo-Coker who
has had pleurisy and is still feeling the effects.
"Teddy Sheringham has only trained once this week and is not
fit enough to return.
"But the players that were involved against Norwich did
extremely well and we going into the game with a lot of confidence
after that performance."
The team to face Wolves will be chosen from the following squad:
Bywater (GK), Walker (GK), Repka, Brevett, Powell, Chadwick,
Mackay, Zamora, Williams, Rebrov, Noble, Harewood, Cohen,
Ferdinand, Melville, Mullins, Sofiane, Reid.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United at Molineux, kick-off
3.00pm
Squad To Face Wolves
14th January 2005