Team news: Diangana and Perez start in five changes versus Southampton

Diangana

 

Manuel Pellegrini has made five changes to his West Ham United starting XI for this evening's Premier League clash with Southampton. 

The Chilean will be hoping to see his Irons return to winning ways after a four successive victories was halted by Watford at the weekend, and Pellegrini has brought in  five fresh faces for tonight's match on the south coast. 

Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell, Pedro Obiang, Grady Diangana and Lucas Perez are all added to the starting XI in place of Pablo Zabaleta, Fabian Balbuena, Arthur Masuaku, Mark Noble and Chicharito. 

Cresswell is handed the captaincy tonight; the first time the left-back has skippered the Irons since joining in 2014 from Ipswich Town.

Lukas Fabianski continues in goal for the Hammers while it looks like Michail Antonio will slot in at right-back in Zabaleta's absence. Issa Diop, Ogbonna and Cresswell complete the back four. 

Declan Rice retains his spot in the team but is joined by Obiang, who scored his first goal for West Ham at St Mary's Stadium in the 2016/17 season, when the Hammers claimed a 3-1 away victory. 

Diangana is back in the starting XI for the first time since the home match with Manchester City, making his 11th appearance in the Premier Legue. Robert Snodgrass and Felipe Anderson are also in the attacking portion of midfield. 

Lucas Perez also comes into the team, having missed out in the last two league matches due to injury. The Spaniard will be hoping to add to his two Premier League goals, scored in the home win over Cardiff City. 

With injuries affecting the Hammers squad, and Zabaleta having to miss out at the last minute due to illness, Pellegrini has only been able to name six substitutes for tonight's match. 

Goalkeeper Adrian is joined on the bench by Masuaku and captain Noble, who both join the substitutes having started the last match. The trio are joined by Andy Carroll and Academy duo Conor Coventry and Xande Silva.

Southampton: McCarthy; Valery, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Yoshida, Targett; Romeu, Lemina, Armstrong; Redmond, Ings

Substitutes: Gunn, Stephens, Long, Austin, Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse, Ramsay

West Ham United: Fabianski; Antonio, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Obiang, Diangana, Snodgrass, F. Anderson; Lucas Perez

Substitutes: Adrian, Masuaku, Noble, Coventry, Carroll, Xande Silva