Manuel Pellegrini has recalled centre back Fabian Balbuena to the West Ham starting lineup for the first time since December as he has been named as one of five changes for the visit to Chelsea.
Balbuena suffered a knee injury during the 2-0 defeat to Watford at the London Stadium on December 22 and had to undergo minor surgery on his meniscus. He's been in the last four matchday squads but has been an unused substitute.
Now though, Pellegrini has seen fit to include the centre back for the first time since his return and he replaces Issa Diop in the centre of defence and partners Angelo Ogbonna.
Javier Hernandez is also included from the start as he looks to score for a fifth successive game at Stamford Bridge and he replaces Lucas Perez from the side that was beaten by Everton.
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Captain Mark Noble also returns to the starting eleven having been on the bench against Everton as Pedro Obiang makes way for him and Ryan Fredericks starts at right back in place of Pablo Zabaleta.
Felipe Anderson is brought straight back in to the starting eleven after missing the Everton game with an ankle injury, the first Premier League match he missed all season.
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Manuel Lanzini starts his fifth game in succession after making a comeback from a knee injury and Marko Arnautovic, who Pellegrini said needed support from the fans in midweek, starts on the right of the front three.
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Fredericks, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Noble; Lanzini, Arnautovic, Anderson, Hernandez.
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