West Ham v Brighton: Hammers star may return, Albion without duo

Pablo Zabaleta could return from illness to face Brighton on Wednesday but Manuel Pellegrini expects West Ham’s injury problems to be slow to ease.

Marko Arnautovic returned in Sunday’s defeat to Burnley, but Pellegrini warned that fellow forward Javier Hernandez is at least another week away from fitness.

Winston Reid (knee) remains out until late January but as yet there is no timescale on returns for Jack Wilshere, Ryan Fredericks (both ankle), Fabio Balbuena, Manuel Lanzini, Carlos Sanchez (all knee) and Andriy Yarmolenko (Achilles).

Provisional squad: Fabianski, Zabaleta, Diop, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Rice, Noble, Snodgrass, Anderson, Antonio, Carroll, Adrian, Cresswell, Obiang, Diangana, Coventry, Silva, Powell, Arnautovic.

Jose Izquierdo should be fit for Brighton.

The Colombia forward has shaken off a knee injury and could make his first appearance since the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on December 4.

Brighton have no injuries but will be without Mat Ryan and Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who are both on international duty.

Provisional squad: Steele, Button, Montoya, Suttner, Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, White, Balogun, Bernardo, Bong, Stephens, Kayal, Bissouma, Propper, Gross, March, Knockaert, Murray, Locadia, Andone, Izquierdo.