Blackburn vs West Ham United: Manuel Lanzini fit for FA Cup trip but Andy Carroll ruled out

West Ham United will welcome back Manuel Lanzini for their FA Cup fifth-round trip to Blackburn Rovers on 21 February. The Argentine playmaker, currently on a season-long loan from Abu Dhabi's Al Jazira Club, has not started for Slaven Bilic's side since limping off in the 38th minute of a 2-0 win over Liverpool in January following the recurrence of a thigh injury that had previously kept him sidelined for four weeks.

Lanzini returned to first-team training following the Hammers' 2-2 draw at Norwich City and the club's head of medical and sports science, Stijn Vandenbroucke, has now confirmed he will be fit to play some part in the cup tie at Ewood Park.

"We will start with some really positive and encouraging news for all West Ham United fans, which is that Manuel Lanzini has returned to training with the squad," he said in a detailed injury update posted on West Ham's official website.

"Manuel joined the team on the training pitch on Sunday after recovering from the thigh problem he suffered in the Barclays Premier League win over Liverpool on 2 January. He will train for the full week and will be available to play a part in Sunday's Emirates FA Cup tie at Blackburn Rovers."

While Lanzini is set to feature, Bilic's forward options will be significantly depleted after Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll both picked up knocks against Norwich. Carroll, who has made just eight starts in all competitions so far this season and recently spent a month out with a hamstring complaint, replaced Valencia in the second half at Carrow Road after the Ecuador international suffered a blow to his right ankle. He finished the match but it has now transpired that he sustained an adductor injury.

Vandenbroucke has not attached a recovery timeline to either of those injuries, although he did confirm key players Winston Reid and Diafra Sakho should be back in training on 22 February. Right-back James Tomkins hurt his calf during the 1-0 defeat at Southampton in early February and is expected to be sidelined for approximately five to six weeks.