Kurt Zouma returns to West Ham side with Rio Ferdinand expecting further punishment

Rio Ferdinand expects Kurt Zouma to be handed further punishment in time after being named in the West Ham United starting XI to take on Newcastle United this afternoon.

Zouma was named in the starting XI against Watford less than 24 hours after the emergence of the sickening video in which the defender was filmed dropping, kicking and slapping one of his Bengal cats.

The 27-year-old was fined £250,000 by his club but retained his place in the side. Zouma was set to start again against Leicester City last Sunday only to be withdrawn at the last minute due to illness.

The former Chelsea defender starts in Saturday’s crucial Premier League fixture against Newcastle with West Ham still chasing a top four finish this season.

Discussing the defender’s place in the team ahead of kick-off, former Hammers defender Ferdinand suggested West Ham will feel they might have acted too quickly in keeping him in the team, adding a further punishment should be on the way.

‘He is remorseful which is important,’ Ferdinand told BT Sport.

‘It’s a very difficult situation to deal with and the aftermath. West Ham, they wouldn’t have expected the uproar that came around that game [against Watford] but with hindsight they might think we should have taken him out of the firing line.

‘Because what has happened since then, they have been really scrutinised over the way they have dealt with it.

‘He needs a punishment, that’s a given, everyone understands and expects that.

‘The RSPCA are investigating it. I think a punishment will come and I think Kurt Zouma will take that, hold his hands up and say the will take the punishment that comes his way.’

Moyes revealed on Friday Zouma had recovered from a ‘really bad illness’ but remained unsure if the