Moyes set to name strong team for Carabao Cup

The Hammers open their Carabao Cup challenge against Blackburn Rovers tomorrow night (Wed) with only Maxwel Cornet ruled out through injury.

David Moyes is set to name a strong side as the club enter at the round of 32 after being given a bye due to their involvement in European competition.

The Irons are two-time EFL Cup finalists – losing to West Bromwich Albion in 1966 and Liverpool in 1981 – and reached the quarter-finals last season, overcoming both Manchester clubs before being edged out at Tottenham Hotspur.

Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson has no reported injury concerns but may have one eye on this weekend’s EFL Championship derby with fellow high-fliers Burnley. The Dane revealed he will rotate his squad in his pre-match press conference.

We expect the Hammers to line up something like this: Areola, Johnson, Aguerd, Ogbonna Emerson; Rice. Downes, Lanzini, Fornals, Bowen, Antonio.

The Irons and Rovers have met just once previously in the EFL Cup competition.

Davor Šuker and Paolo Di Canio scored second-half goals as the Hammers scored a 2-0 victory over Rovers at the Boleyn Ground on 31 October 2000.