Michail Antonio has been given the nod for West Ham by manager Manuel Pellegrini as the Hammers face Manchester City in their Premier League opener at London Stadium.
Antonio was mainly reduced to substitute appearances in pre-season and was also deployed as a striker by Pellegrini for the majority of pre-season but he will start in midfield against City as the Hammers line up in what looks like a 4-5-1 formation.
The player who misses out at thanks to Antonio's inclusion is summer recruit Pablo Fornals, the £25m midfielder has to settle for a place on the bench.
Club-record signing Sebastien Haller starts up front and the midfield behind him consists of Antonio, Manuel Lanzini, Felipe Anderson, Jack Wilshere and Declan Rice.
Wilshere has been rewarded for an excellent pre-season wit his first Premier League start in 11 months.
In defence, Aaron Cresswell has been given the nod over Arthur Masuaku at left back, who isn't even in the squad, and will captain the side in the absence of Mark Noble, who misses out with the leg injury.
Lukasz Fabianski is ft to start in goal having missed the final two pre-season friendlies with a groin injury, Ryan Fredericks start at right back and the two first choice centre halves line up as Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena resume their partnership.
West Ham: Fabianski; Fredericks, Diop, Balbuena, Cresswell; Rice, Wilshere; Anderson, Antonio, Lanzini; Haller.
