Bywater Returns To Hammers Action



GOALKEEPER Stephen Bywater returns to action for West Ham United this evening, as Hammers Reserves take on Norwich City at Upton Park, kick-off 7.00pm.

The Academy graduate has spent the start of the season impressing on-loan at Coventry, but was recently recalled to Alan Pardew's squad after Roy Carroll was injured in training.

Bywater takes his place in a strong Reserve team to face the Canaries. Right-back Jemel Henry and striker Petr Mikolanda, fresh from a loan spell at Northampton Town, are the only players in the starting line-up without senior experience for the Hammers.

Clive Clarke, James Collins and Elliott Ward join Henry in a strong back-four.

In centre-midfield Carl Fletcher is paired with Scotland captain Christian Dailly, who started in the Carling Cup defeat to Bolton last week.

Mark Noble returns to action on the right of midfield after recovering from a back problem, while David Bellion looks set to start on the left flank even though he was in the startling line-up at Anfield just four days ago.

Up front, fit-again French player Jeremie Aliadiere, on loan from Arsenal, starts alongside Mikolanda.

Chris Cohen, Tony Stokes and Hogan Ephraim are three young players unlucky to miss out this evening after impressing in Kevin Keen's side this season.

The team to face Norwich is as follows:

1. Stephen Bywater (GK)
2. Jemel Henry
3. Clive Clarke
4. James Collins
5. Elliott Ward
6. Carl Fletcher
7. Mark Noble
8. Christian Dailly
9. Petr Mikolanda
10. Jeremie Aliadiere
11. David Bellion

12. Chris Cohen
21. Matthew Reed (GK)
14. Tony Stokes
15. Liam White
16. Ryan Andrews
17. Hogan Ephraim