Squad To Take On Cardiff

ALAN Pardew has made three changes to the squad for the match against Cardiff City on Sunday.

Defender Andy Melville is missing, having agreed a three-month loan to Nottingham Forest, while Czech international Tomas Repka will miss his first game of the season this weekend after picking up a one-match suspension for reaching five bookings.

Elliott Ward returns to the squad having completed a loan spell at Bristol Rovers and Trent McClenahan is also included after returning from international duty with the Australian Under-20 team this week.

Absentees include Gavin Williams (ankle), Matty Etherington (groin) and Don Hutchison (knee). Steve Lomas (calf) and Christian Dailly (knee) have both done light training this week, but neither is fit enough to be involved on Sunday.

Pards said: "We'll need to have a shift around at the back because of Tomas' suspension.

"Steve Lomas and Christian Dailly have both been involved in training, but they really need to build up their fitness before being able to return to the first-team.

"Matty is on his way back from the groin injury and we're hopeful he'll be available next week and Gavin Williams is progressing well after spraining his ankle against Derby."

The team to face Cardiff will be chosen from the following squad:

Bywater (GK), Walker (GK), Mullins, Ferdinand, Powell, Mackay, Chadwick, Reo-Coker, McClenahan, Fletcher, Noble, Harewood, Zamora, Sheringham, Cohen, Rebrov, Brevett, Ward.

West Ham United v Cardiff City at Upton Park, kick-off 1.00pm.