Diafra Sakho will be assessed as late as Saturday morning as Sam Allardyce gives the West Ham striker as much ti me as possible to prove his fitness for their game at Stoke.
However, James Tomkins and Matt Jarvis return to the squad after both recovered from thigh injuries although Mauro Zarate is apparently still a doubt.
However, ClaretandHugh was assured he is fit although Kevin Nolan would be likely to get the nod should Sakho miss the game given he is ahead of the Argentine having been recovered from his shoulder problem for three weeks.
Provisional squad: Adrian, Jaaskelainen, Cresswell, O’Brien, Reid, Tomkins, Collins, Jenkinson, Noble, Kouyate, Song, Poyet, Nolan, Amalfitano, Downing, Jarvis, Vaz Te, Cole, Zarate, Sakho, Valenciaing been