Team News: Kevin Nolan handed West Ham United captaincy for Birkirkara test

Slaven Bilic has named a strong starting lineup for his first official home game in charge of West Ham United.

The Hammers meet Maltese FA Trophy winners Birkirkara at Upton Park this evening in the first leg of their Europa League second qualification tie.

Despite his match-winning goal against Andorran minnows Lusitanos in the last round, Elliot Lee has been omitted from the starting lineup, while Diafra Sakho also misses out through suspension.

Modibo Maiga, Morgan Amalfitano and Mauro Zarate have therefore been selected to lead the line in a team that shows seven changes from last time out, as the Hammers aim to take a convincing lead into next week's reverse leg.

There is also a place in the starting lineup for Kevin Nolan, who has been handed the captain's armband by Bilic in the middle of the park, but new signing Stephen Hendrie has to make do with a place among the subs.

West Ham United:: Adrian, O'Brien, Reid, Tomkins, Cresswell, Noble, Nolan, Jarvis, Amalfitano, Zarate, Maiga Subs: Randolph, Collins, Poyet, Hendrie, Samuelsen, Lee, Pike

Birkirkara: Haber, Muscat, Zerafa, Mazzetti, Vukanac, Camenzuli, Fenech, Muscat, Liliu, Miccoli, Murga Subs: Agius, Akpan, Aquilina, Plut, Sciberras, Zammit, Zerefa