Manuel Pellegrini is never an easy boss to read when it comes to team selection but with playmakers on the way back we are likely to see a Hammers team more in his image than previously this season.
However, tomorrow night we will probably see the team that started the Palace game – with the exception of Arnautovic for Chicharito – lining up against Fulham.
Both Lanzini and Nasri are set for the bench with insiders telling CandH this morning that Lanzini has been in seriously competitive form on the training ground.
One of our senior sources told us by telephone:”He genuinely looks like the Lanzini we know. There’s been no holding back and is probably ready to give 20 minutes should the game demand it.
“Not a single chance will be taken and the scans are showing perfect healing – it’s exciting times for him and the fans after he suffered such a devastating injury. ”
Nasri is also ready to get involved again but is also likely to be on the bench as a possible replacement for Noble with Lanzini coming on for Snodgrass should he be required.
Fabian Balbuena is close to a return but Ogbonna looks set to partner Issa Diop from the start against Fulham.”
Likely starting x1: Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Noble, Snodgrass Anderson, Antonio, Arnautovic
Frankly I’m so nervous about Lanzini that I wouldn’t play him unless we were struggling up front and need some magic. For him to get chopped down would be a disaster for him and us.