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Football London
Football London
Sport
Tom Clark

Confirmed West Ham team news against Newcastle as Moyes makes Zouma, Bowen and Coufal decisions

Vladimir Coufal has been dropped from the West Ham starting XI following a disappointing performance against Leicester City with Ryan Fredericks in the starting XI.

Moyes has made two changes to his backline with Kurt Zouma returning to the West Ham starting XI after recovering from the illness that saw him drop out of the team that drew 2-2 with Leicester City last weekend. Said Benrahma is also recalled to the team with Manuel Lanzini the man to miss out.

David Moyes' decision to recall Zouma sees Issa Diop replaced in the starting team despite his superb performance at the King Power Stadium last weekend. Zouma will therefore partner Craig Dawson in the heart of defence with Moyes' backline having a settled look to it.

Fredericks will start at right-back instead of Coufal, while Aaron Cresswell can consider himself slightly fortunate to remain in the team following a poor display last time out but Moyes has opted to trust his experience full-back. The back-four will start ahead of regular league goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

The Hammers midfield will see regular partners Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice line up as the midfield axis in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Ahead of the central midfielders, Moyes has elected to make one change to the quartet that began the draw with Leicester last weekend.

Pablo Fornals will take up his position on the left, with Benrahma in the No.10 role and Jarrod Bowen on the right behind lone striker Michail Antonio.

Moyes is hopeful that Bowen will continue his fine run in front of goal that has seen him score seven in his last seven matches, while he believes that Antonio is getting close to returning to his best.

The Jamaica international has just two goals in his last 16 league games but Moyes is backing his main forward to return to form soon.

"I want to get Mich back to the levels because he's really important for the team," Moyes said. "Even last week at Leicester he did not get a goal but I am just beginning to see little bits which are giving us encouragement he's getting back and I don't think it'll be too long before he's back on the scoresheet."

West Ham XI: Fabianski; Fredericks, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals; Antonio

Subs: Areola, Alese, Diop, Johnson, Noble, Kral, Chesters, Vlasic, Yarmolenko

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