10:28am Tuesday 9th September 2008
WALTER Lopez will make a claim for his West Ham debut in a special behind-closed-doors friendly at Chadwell Heath this afternoon.
The Uruguay international defender, signed on a one-year deal from home-town club River Plate last week, will hope to impress caretaker manager Kevin Keen in the fixture.
Should he do so, the 22-year-old full-back could be involved in Saturday's Premier League visit to West Bromwich Albion, where Keen is also likely to be in charge.
With George McCartney having departed for Sunderland and fellow new signing Herita Ilunga not arriving in England until Wednesday, Montevideo-born Lopez could be handed the left-back berth at the Hawthorns.
Today's friendly could also see the likes of James Tomkins and James Collins continue their returns following spells out with knee injuries, while Nigel Quashie, Luis Boa Morte and Freddie Sears could also be involved.
Italian striker David Di Michele, who has joined on a season-long loan from Torino, could appear in a Hammers shirt for the first time.
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