Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has handed a rare start to central defender Martin Jiranek for tonight's Carling Cup semi-final second-leg clash with West Ham at St Andrew’s.

West Ham midfielder Scott Parker will start tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Everton.

West Ham forward Victor Obinna is suspended after being sent off against Birmingham in the Carling Cup in midweek.

BLUNDERING Ben Foster may have saved Avram Grant’s job last night as 10-man West Ham survived a moment of madness from Victor Obinna to beat Birmingham in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.

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Matthew Upson and Scott Parker both returned to Avram Grant’s starting XI as the West Ham boss looked to ease the pressure on his shoulders with a win against Birmingham in tonight’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg.

Carlton Cole looks set to return to the West Ham team for tomorrow’s Carling Cup semi-final, first leg against Birmingham.

West Ham manager Avram Grant is set to reshuffle his team for tomorrow’s FA Cup third-round tie.

West Ham will check on Lars Jacobsen and Valon Behrami ahead of the Barclays Premier League trip to Newcastle.

Valon Behrami could return for West Ham’s Barclays Premier League relegation six-pointer against Wolves tomorrow after a month out with a hip injury.

AVRAM GRANT hit out at the scheduling that forced West Ham to play twice in three days after last night’s 1-1 draw against an Everton side who had an eight-day break before the match.

Goalkeeper Robert Green could be back after recovering from a minor hip operation to give West Ham a boost for the St Stephen's Day trip to Fulham.

Robert Green, Victor Obinna and Valon Behrami are all expected to return to the West Ham squad for their crunch December 26 game at Fulham.

West Ham will give fitness tests to midfielder Valon Behrami (hip) and defender Lars Jacobsen (heel) ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League match at Blackburn.

Barclays Premier League strugglers West Ham made four changes for the visit of high-flying Manchester City.

West Ham will give a fitness test to Valon Behrami before deciding whether the midfielder will play any part in tomorrow’s Premier League match against Manchester City.

ALEX FERGUSON was hoping his latest batch of fledglings would go on to dominate the English game — but on the evidence of this display, they still need a long way to go before they challenge for major silverware.

Scott Parker is a major doubt ahead of West Ham’s Barclays Premier League trip to Liverpool.

Theo Walcott has to be content with a place on the bench for Arsenal’s Premier League clash with bottom club West Ham.

West Ham captain Matthew Upson looks certain to miss tomorrow’s match at Arsenal with a hamstring injury he received against Newcastle last week.

Matthew Upson is pushing for a return to action against Newcastle after missing West Ham’s draw at Wolves last weekend with a neck strain.

Kieron Dyer could miss West Ham’s Premier League clash with Fulham tomorrow through illness.

Luka Modric was named in Tottenham’s starting line-up against West Ham at Upton Park this afternoon after making a speedy recovery from the leg injury he suffered against West Brom two weeks ago.

Thomas Hitzlsperger will not make his West Ham debut in tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham.

West Ham have no fresh injury worries for tomorrow’s trip to Stoke, where manager Avram Grant will not be in the dug out as he observes the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.

Chelsea’s new signing from Benfica, Ramires, will make his full Premier League debut for the Blues against West ham at Upton Park today.

Avram Grant could hand debuts to striker Victor Obinna and right-back Lars Jacobsen as he aims to end West Ham’s faltering start to the season against Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea.

West Ham are waiting to discover whether they can include new signing Victor Obinna in their squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United.

Manuel Da Costa and summer signing Tal Ben Haim could come into the West Ham defence for tomorrow’s Carling Cup tie against Oxford.

West Ham will be without injured midfield pair Thomas Hitzlsperger and Valon Behrami for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton.

Aston Villa midfielder James Milner started against West Ham in what could be his final game for the club.

Thomas Hitzlsperger looks set to miss out on his West Ham debut against his former club Aston Villa.

Valon Behrami has been ruled out of West Ham’s final match of the Premier League season against Manchester City.

West Ham have centre-back James Tomkins and midfielder Luis Boa Morte available for selection for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Fulham.

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West Ham will have influential midfielder Scott Parker back for their Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan after he completed a two-match suspension.

LIVERPOOL striker Fernando Torres has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on his troublesome knee injury last night.

West Ham midfielder Scott Parker is suspended for Monday’s Premier League clash with Liverpool as he completes his two-match ban.

West Ham will be without suspended midfield talisman Scott Parker for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Sunderland.

Gianfranco Zola could have Jack Collison and James Tomkins back for Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash at Everton.

West Ham will be without striker Guillermo Franco (Achilles) and defender James Tomkins (ankle) for tomorrow’s clash with Stoke at Upton Park.

WOLVES took a giant step towards securing their Premier League survival last night as Kevin Doyle led a comprehensive victory at Upton Park which plunged West Ham deeper into relegation trouble.

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