CandH match analyst Mike Manera looks at Sunday’s game

I can’t remember a time when the Hammers have had so many options in so many positions but Manuel Pellegrini should ignore most of them on Sunday and stick with last week’s team.

The Marko injury question is still hanging over his team selection and I’m told he will be making a final decision on Sunday morning.

I’ll come to that later but with everybody else be fit they should all start with Zaba holding his place over Ryan Fredericks and Declan Rice of course now our nailed on defensive midfielder.

Many words have been published about him this week but I don’t think anybody could have expected him to make such an impact on his first team return.

He was great in midfield and being a natural defender he was forever slipping into the back four whenever Diop or Balbuena moved forward.

It’s a shame that Jack Wilshere’s injury was responsible. No player deserves that but Declan simply settled in to the manner born and it’s hard to argue with the view that he shouldn’t be the man around whom the manager builds this team.

There was a calmness and composure from him which spread through the team and I believe with game time and more training under his belt we will also see improved passing and performance from the Mark Noble against Chelsea.

The manager is getting his messages through and what’s clear is that he prefers Masuaku to Cresswell, has stuck with a central defensive pairing which is starting to look good, has now seen the Rice potential and can be very pleased with Pedro Obiang’s contribution.

If Obiang can add consistency to his game we may not need to venture too heavily into the January transfer market, if not I think we will because if I was backing either Rice or him to have an off day it would be him.

Getting things sorted was always going to take time. In fact in one of my weekly pieces I remember saying: “Don’t be surprised if we are 16th after four games!”

It now looks a lot better since last weekend but were Arnie to be missing that would be a blow although as I mentioned earlier we do have more options than for many years.

I think I’d start with Perez should that be the case because he drifts around and drags defenders out of position although much will depend on his match fitness.

Antonio is the other obvious candidate although he may not have the sort of football brain as the former Arsenal man.

Yarmo and Anderson have also shown they can make a real impact and if we can look after Hazard – whom I think should be marked zonally – I fancy us

Sure it’s a hard game but we look to be developing a real team pattern and I’m confident of a win.

I’m going for a 3-2.