Jordan Spence will return to training with the first team on Thursday after being recalled from his hugely successful loan at Bristol City.
The right-back has been a revelation at the Championship club since joining on 3 March, but will now miss their final game of the season at home against Hull City this Saturday. City are not involved in any of the promotion or relegation issues.
Avram Grant had a 24-hour call-back on Spence and the decision to recall him was confirmed on Wednesday. Spence will provide defensive cover, with doubts over the fitness of Matthew Upson (dead leg) and James Tomkins (knee) and he could yet add to his solitary senior appearance for the Hammers which came on the last day of last season.
Spence's form at Bristol City saw him play every game while he also forced his way into the England Under-21 set-up. Still only 20, he made eleven appearances in all for the Ashton Gate club, following on from previous positive loans at Leyton Orient and Scunthorpe United.