Arnautovic back for Hammers

Marko Arnautovic returns to the West Ham starting line-up for this afternoon’s game against Huddersfield Town.

The Austrian has not started a game for the Hammers since the 3-0 defeat at Wolves in January, after trying to force through a big-money move to China.

Boss Manuel Pellegrini said yesterday the striker had been out for several reasons. He said: “First, because his mind was out when he had the option to go to China. Then he returned and didn’t work for about a week, so he needed time to recover his performance.

“After that, he was sick. He was going to start against Manchester City but he felt bad that day. There’s a lot of reasons why he was starting on the bench, but I think he is ready to return in his position.”

Arnautovic replaces Chicharito and is one of three changes Pellegrini makes to the team which lost 2-0 at Cardiff last week.

Michail Antonio and Pablo Zabaleta also step up to the starting line-up, with Robert Snodgrass and Ryan Fredericks the men making way for them, while Fabian Balbuena is back from injury and on the bench.

Andy Carroll is out with an ankle injury.

West Ham United: Fabianski, Zabaleta, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Noble (c), Antonio, Lanzini, Felipe Anderson, Arnautovic

Subs: Adrian, Balbuena, Masuaku, Snodgrass, Nasri, Chicharito, Lucas Perez

Huddersfield Town: Lossl, Smith (c), Kongolo, Bacuna, Mooy, Lowe, Grant, Pritchard, Stankovic, Durm, Rowe Subs: Hamer, Billing, Mounie, Zanka, Hadergjonaj, Daly, Puncheon

Referee: Jonathan Moss