WEST HAM welcome Mark Noble and Scott Parker back for the trip to Aston Villa.
The two will take their place alongside Radoslav Kovac, Valon Behrami and Jack Collison after recovering from their respective injuries, as manager Gianfranco Zola opts to pack the midfield.
The Italian has taken the decision to leave in-form forward Alessandro Diamanti on the bench, preferring to play a lone frontman in Frank Nouble, who makes only his second start for the Hammers.
It will be a stiff task for the rookie striker, who will find himself up against a former West Ham favourite in James Collins, who completed his move to Villa Park last summer.
Meanwhile, pace is the stand-out feature of Martin O'Neill's side, with Ashley Young and Stewart Downing occupying the wings and a front two of Gabby Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey.
Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Petrov, Ashley Young, Milner, Downing, Agbonlahor, Heskey
Subs: Guzan, Luke Young, Sidwell, Carew, Delfouneso, Delph, Beye
West Ham: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Spector, Noble, Kovac, Parker, Behrami, Collison, Nouble
Subs: Kurucz, Jiminez, Sears, Da Costa, Diamanti, Daprela, Stanislas
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