MATCH PREVIEW // NASRI TOUTED FOR HAMMERS DEBUT AGAINST BIRMINGHAM

By Sam Tonks

The start of a new year means Premier League sides return to action in England’s most historic cup competition, the FA Cup. Birmingham City will make their first trip to London Stadium this Saturday lunchtime, a first game against West Ham since 2012.

The Hammers started the year with a well-earned point at home to Brighton on Wednesday night, thanks to a brace from Marko Arnautovic. This left West Ham three points off seventh, but Manuel Pellegrini was making his desire to win a trophy known and that his side are taking the competition seriously.

“I think the FA Cup is a very important trophy, a good cup, the whole country plays it, so of course for any manager it is always beautiful to win,” he said.

“I think to win a title with West Ham is a very important thing. It is one of my targets in the way I think and my mentality is I always try to win.

“We will try to continue in the cup. It's another option to win a title, another option to arrive in a European spot, so for the moment we will give maximum focus to the cup.”

Captain Mark Noble was also speaking of his admiration for the competition, reviving memories of one of the great FA Cup finals, against Liverpool in 2006.

“When we last reached the final, against Liverpool in 2006, Alan Pardew took myself and another young player, Chris Cohen, along for the experience,” said Noble.

“A couple of weeks later Pards called me into his office and gave me a runners-up medal, which was nice. I’d love to add a winner’s medal to it, so why not this season?

“It’s Emirates FA Cup third round weekend, which is and always has been one of the big dates on the football calendar, anywhere in the world.”

Birmingham City are untested opponents for the boss, but as they sit just four points off the play-offs since the rejuvenation under Garry Monk, it won’t be an easy tie.

“Birmingham are near the play-offs but they have to play so many months more,” said Pellegrini

“I think they will play their game tomorrow with the maximum to continue in the FA Cup.”

As for team news, new acquisition Samir Nasri is set to make his debut after signing at the end of 2018. A Premier League winner with the Chilean at Manchester City, he has the full faith of his manager after a lengthy spell out.

“I think football is like riding a bicycle. When you learn to ride a bicycle when you are a small boy, you never forget,” he explained.

“I think Samir is a very technical player and he will play football in the same way that he played in the last game he was able to do it, so I trust a lot in what he will give to our team.”

For the visitors, full-back Kristian Pedersen is a doubt whilst Isaac Vassell could be set for a long-awaited return from injury after 14 months on the side-lines. City are unbeaten in their last four meetings with West Ham.