West Ham have confirmed the 25 man squad that they hope will be good enough to avoid relegation.
The deadline for registrations passed earlier today with the news that both Herita Ilunga and Benni McCarthy have been omitted from the final 25 to make space for the January arrivals, meaning that neither will be eligible to play in the Premier League for the remainder of the season.Ilunga, a shadow of the player who made such an impression during his first season at the club had been set for a deadline day return to France, but negotiations with at least two clubs failed to bear fruit.
Meanwhile McCarthy, who must rank as one of the club's worst players ever had been hoping for a loan move but unsurprisingly, given his current condition, failed to find a new club.
All of the transfer window arrivals - Wayne Bridge, Gary O'Neil, Demba Ba and Robbie Keane - have been named in the squad, whilst the fifth January signing - Paul McCallum - is set to go under the wing of Tony Carr in the under 18s.
The 25 man squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers
Robert Green (England)
Ruud Boffin (Belgium)
Defenders
Danny Gabbidon (Wales)
Matthew Upson (England)
Wayne Bridge (England)
Manuel Da Costa (Portugal)
Julien Faubert (France)
Winston Reid (New Zealand)
Lars Jacobsen (Denmark)
Midfielders
Jonathan Spector (USA)
Scott Parker (England)
Kieron Dyer (England)
Mark Noble (England)
Pablo Barerra (Mexico)
Gary O'Neil (England)
Tomas Hitzlsperger (GErmany)
Jack Collison (Wales)
Radoslav Kovac (Czech Republic)
Luis Boa Morte (Portugal)
Strikers
Carlton Cole (England)
Robbie Keane (Ireland)
Frederic Piquionne (France)
Zavon Hines (England)
Demba Ba (Senegal)
Victor Obinna (Nigeria)
First team squad players who were 21 or under at the registration deadline and therefore also eligible to play include Jordan Brown, Anthony Edgar, Matthew Fry, Frank Nouble, Freddie Sears, Jordan Spence, Junior Stanislas, Marek Stech and James Tomkins.
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