Football: Weekend guide to the Premiership: West Ham v Everton

Last season:

EVERTON WILL have three West Ham old boys in their line-up at Upton Park, but not all of them are likely to be expecting a warm festive welcome. The injury-hit Merseysiders have Slaven Bilic, Don Hutchison and David Unsworth all returning to the East End, and while Unsworth and Hutchison can expect a good response from the Upton Park faithful, Bilic knows he is in for an afternoon of abuse after implying that the Hammers were unambitious before joining Everton. Danny Cadamarteri's return from suspension is the only bright spot for Everton's manager, Walter Smith. His squad is badly weakened by injuries to Craig Short and Dave Watson, while Ibrahima Bakayoko, John Oster and Gareth Farrelly all have flu. Michael Ball also has been hit by the virus sweeping the club, but is suspended in any case.

For West Ham, centre-back Neil Ruddock begins a three-match ban while John Moncur is also suspended. Paul Kitson is still out with a toe problem but should be fit for the Christmas programme. Eyal Berkovic and Javier Margas both return to the squad after injury.

WEST HAM (from): Hislop, Pearce, Ferdinand, Potts, Margas, Lomas, Lampard, Lazaridis, Keller, Sinclair, Berkovic, Hartson, Wright, Forrest, Omoyimni, Etherington, Breacker, Coyne, Boylan.

EVERTON (from): Myhre, Cleland, Bilic, Materazzi, Unsworth, Collins, Hutchison, Grant, Dacourt, Barmby, Madar, Cadamarteri, Ward, Branch, Simonsen, Jeffers, McDermott, Regan, Farley.

Suspensions: West Ham: Ruddock, Moncur. Everton: Ball, Dunne.

Referee: R Harris.