Kanoute set to start for Hammers

West Ham striker Fredi Kanoute is set to start in tomorrow’s Barclaycard Premiership visit to Leeds – having come through with no trouble from his two appearances as a substitute.

Kanoute, who had been suffering with a groin injury which forced him out of the side from September, did return for the St Stephen's Day match at home to Fulham before he had to come off after 68 minutes.

He has had rehabilitation in America and is now set to lead the line at Elland Road as West Ham begins their next bid to climb out of relegation trouble.

Manager Glenn Roeder also welcomes back Steve Lomas from suspension and Ian Pearce – who had been suffering from flu – while giving a full debut to left back Rufus Brevett in the absence of wrist injury victim Nigel Winterburn.

Provisional squad: James, Johnson, Repka, Dailly, Brevett, Bowyer, Carrick, Cole, Lomas, Sinclair, Kanoute, di Canio, Defoe, van der Gouw, Schemmel, Pearce, Ferdinand.