Team News: Andre Ayew starts, Andy Carroll on the bench against Crystal Palace

Andre Ayew has been handed a start for West Ham United's trip to Crystal Palace this afternoon.

The Ghanaian is given a place in the starting XI having scored a brace in the Hammers' EFL Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur during the week.

Slaven Bilic has opted to make four changes from that encounter, as Jose Fonte, Javier Hernandez, Pablo Zabaleta and Joe Hart start.

Andy Carroll is on the bench after missing the last league outing through suspension, as is Michail Antonio after missing the game in midweek with a rib injury. Alongside Carroll, Declan Rice, Sam Byram and Adrian are the men to make way.

In a much-altered side from midweek's EFL Cup loss to Bristol City, Crystal Palace make two changes from the XI that lost to Newcastle United last time out in the league.

James Tomkins comes in for Mamadou Sakho in defence, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaces James McArthur in midfield as Palace continue their search for a first clean sheet of the season.

Crystal Palace: Speroni; Ward, Van Aanholt, Tomkins, Dann; Milivojevic, Cabaye; Loftus-Cheek, Schlupp, Townsend; Zaha Subs: Hennessey, Fosu-Mensah, Sako, Delaney, Kelly, Puncheon, Riedewald

West Ham United: Hart; Cresswell, Fonte, Zabaleta, Ogbonna; Kouyate, Noble, Fernandes; Lanzini, Ayew, Hernandez Subs: Adrian, Arnautovic, Carroll, Obiang, Masuaku, Antonio, Rice