Hammers waiting on Upson

England defender Matthew Upson could return to West Ham’s starting line-up for their trip to Birmingham tomorrow.

Upson missed last weekend’s defeat at Arsenal with a hamstring problem and could be fit to play, but manager Avram Grant will be without Julien Faubert who starts a three-game suspension.

Also unavailable to Grant are midfielder trio Jack Collison (knee), Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh) and Mark Noble (appendix), while Tal Ben Haim (foot) and Zavon Hines (knee) are also out and Junior Stanislas (groin) is doubtful.

Team (from): Green, Jacobsen, da Costa, Upson, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Reid, Spector, Behrami, Barrera, Parker, Kovac, Obinna, Cole, Piquionne, McCarthy, Stech, Boa Morte, Stanislas.