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.