Lanzini returns, "fabulous" 22-y/o ace starts: West Ham predicted XI vs Wolves - opinion

West Ham United host Wolverhampton Wanderers this afternoon with both sides in the hunt for European football come the end of the season. The Hammers are in sixth but can be leapfrogged by Wolves who are just two points behind in eighth.

It’s a game of major importance for both sides, with the hosts particularly shaky of late. But who will David Moyes entrust from the off? Here is how Football FanCast thinks West ham will line up.

In goal there are no changes as number one stopper Fabianski keeps his place whilst there is a change at the back. At right-back comes 22-year-old Ben Johnson for his first Premier League start since New Year’s Day.

The Englishman played the second half in last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Newcastle United after Ryan Fredericks had picked up a yellow card and had a genuine possibility of being sent off. However, the youngster’s appearance against the Magpies was his first in the league since the trip to Crystal Palace on 1 January.

With first-choice right-back Vladimir Coufal set to be on the sidelines after groin surgery, Johnson, who was labelled as “fabulous” by his manager in October, will be keen to return to the side on a regular basis, having started eight consecutive league games between October and December.

The defensive midfield duo of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek is a given whilst Pablo Fornals and the red-hot Jarrod Bowen start on the flanks, either side of Manuel Lanzini, who replaces Said Benrahma.

This week, Moyes confirmed that Lanzini was back in training this week and is in contention to start, having missed the Newcastle match.

Up front is, of course, Michail Antonio, who is the Hammers’ only senior striker. The Jamaica international will be looking to break his recent duck,