Villa midfielder returns for West Ham visit

Friday, February 8, 2013
2:07 PM

West Ham will travel to Aston Villa on Sunday with the hosts boosted by the news that midfielder Fabian Delph has recovered from an ankle injury after a two-game absence.

Fellow midfielder Karim El Ahmadi has also shaken off a knock to the knee sustained during the 3-3 draw at Everton last weekend and could feature in the Premier League showdown.

Villa manager Paul Lambert will run a fitness check over a third midfielder in Ashley Westwood, who is currently suffering from illness, but hopes of a return for defender Richard Dunne have been dashed by a recurrence of his groin problem.

Provisional squad: Guzan, Given, Marshall, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Lichaj, Stevens, Baker, Bennett, El Ahmadi, Delph, Sylla, Ireland, Westwood, Dawkins, N’Zogbia, Bannan, Holman, Benteke, Agbonlahor, Bent, Bowery, Weimann, Burke, Johnson, Williams, Carruthers.