Newton in for West Ham
West Ham manager Alan Pardew recalled midfielder Shaun Newton for the Coca-Cola Championship play-off final against Preston at the Millennium Stadium.
Newton was on the substitutes’ bench in the second-leg victory over Ipswich in the semi-final last week, but was preferred to Carl Fletcher as Pardew reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.
Former England international Teddy Sheringham had recovered from a hamstring injury but had to be content with a place on the bench, while Tomas Repka was fi to start for the London club.
The Hammers are back in Cardiff for a second consecutive season after losing to Crystal Palace in the play-offs last year.
But Preston have the psychological edge going into the game after winning their two Championship fixtures against West Ham this campaign.
Manager Billy Davies, who celebrates his 42nd birthday tomorrow, named an unchanged starting line-up.
Defender Graham Alexander passed a late fitness test after missing the two-legged semi-final victory over Derby with a hamstring injury and was named on the bench.
However, Scotland international Callum Davidson missed out with a calf problem as Preston aim to reach the top flight for the first time in 44 years.
West Ham: Walker, Repka, Ferdinand, Ward, Powell, Newton, Reo-Coker, Mullins, Etherington, Harewood, Zamora. Subs: Bywater, Sheringham, Fletcher, Noble, Dailly.
Preston: Nash, Mawene, Davis, Lucketti, Hill, Sedgwick, McKenna, O’Neil, Lewis, Cresswell, Nugent. Subs: Alexander, Etuhu, Broomes, Agyemang, Ward.
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire)
