Hitzlsperger a doubt for Hammers

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

The midfielder, a summer signing from Lazio, suffered a thigh injury playing for Germany in midweek and is a major doubt.

New manager Avram Grant could hand debuts to Mexico winger Pablo Barrera, New Zealand defender Winston Reid and his old Portsmouth pair Tal Ben-Haim and Frederic Piquionne.

Midfielder Jack Collison and striker Zavon Hines (both knee) remain long-term absentees.

Team (from): Green, Faubert, Upson, Tomkins, Ilunga, Noble, Parker, Behrami, Piquionne, Cole, Boa Morte, Gabbidon, Dyer, Kovac, Hitzlsperger, McCarthy, Ben-Haim, Spector, Sears, Da Costa, Nouble, Stech, Diamanti, Daprela, Stanislas, Barrera, Reid.