Boss Gianfranco Zola will be hoping to welcome back midfielders Scott Parker and Mark Noble to his starting line-up as West Ham bid to ease their relegation fears with a victory over fellow strugglers Wolves. Parker and Noble have been out since Christmas with hamstring injuries, while Wolves will aim to record only their third away win of the season.

Quick Check

West Ham United

  • Midfielders Scott Parker and Mark Noble are hoping to return after hamstring problems.
  • Alessandro Diamanti has scored four goals in his last five games.
  • Guillermo Franco is available after a one-match ban.
  • Matthew Upson and Mark Noble scored when West Ham beat Wolves at Molineux in August.
  • Herta Ilunga and Daniel Gabbidon are struggling with a hamstring problems.
  • Leading scorer Carlton Cole remains sidelined by a knee injury.
  • Midfielder Kieron Dyer is out with a hamstring injury.
  • Zavon Hines is still doubtful with a knee injury.
  • West Ham have kept just one clean sheet in 17 fixtures.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

  • Christophe Berra will return from concussion.
  • Midfielder Dave Edwards is out for another two months with a hamstring injury.
  • Winger Michael Kightly is out until the end of the month with an ankle problem.
  • Striker Andy Keogh is sidelined until March with ankle ligament damage.
  • Wolves have kept only two clean sheets in their last 18 league games.
  • Wanderers have won only one of their last six meetings with West Ham.

Expert Advice

The first half of the season was not the easiest for Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola and he will be hoping the new year will bring about a change in fortune. West Ham have certainly not been helped by injuries to key personnel over the last month but those players are now starting to slowly return and will bring with them renewed hope. Top striker Carlton Cole remains sidelined but he is not far away from making his comeback and Alessandro Diamanti has hit a rich vein of form in his absence. Wolves have been a tricky team to predict over the last few weeks and, even though they will start the game as underdogs, are capable of causing a surprise so go for Betsson’s price of 2.10 for there to be over 2.5 goals as a sound bet.

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