Hammers duo set to return

West Ham manager Glenn Roeder is hoping to have his top two strikers Paolo di Canio and Freddie Kanoute back from their long-term injuries for tomorrow night’s crucial Premiership match against Blackburn at Upton Park.

Czech Republic central defender Tomas Repka, who has completed his four-match suspension, recent loan signing Les Ferdinand, who was not eligible for Sunday’s 6-0 FA Cup humiliation by Manchester United, and veteran left-back Nigel Winterburn, who was rested, also return to the squad.