Thomas Hitzlsperger to make West Ham debut in FA Cup against Burnley

Thomas Hitzlsperger will finally make his competitive West Ham debut against Burnley in Monday's FA Cup fifth-round tie at Upton Park, having been ruled out since early August due to a thigh injury. The midfielder was signed by Avram Grant on a free transfer from Lazio on 5 June but was then injured when captaining Germany in the 2-2 friendly draw against Denmark a few days before the Premier League started. Grant said: "He's almost there. He played 70 minutes against Chelsea in the reserve game and did well. Its not easy after such a long time that he has been out injured so it's nice to see him out there. He will play on Monday. I don't know how long but he will play." Grant is clear on how influential the former Aston Villa midfielder could be as the Israeli hopes to continue West Ham's Cup run and lift his side from second-bottom position in the Premier League. "If he will be like he was in the [pre-season] training camps and in preparation for the league he's one of the best midfield players in the league because of his all round vision, touch, [the] scoring [of] goals, assists [and he] knows how to defend," Grant said of the 28-year-old. "He's clever, he was very good in every game [in pre-season] ... he scored or gave an assist. He can play 4-4-2, 4-3-3 as [a] holding midfielder, as an attacking midfielder. This is one of the reasons why they made him captain of German team but we're paying for it now." Grant is keen that there are no changes to the FA Cup unless they would enhance the competition after reports earlier this week suggested later kick-off times and scrapping replays may be under consideration. "I like the tradition of the FA Cup, I like it very much," he said. "But I also believe in balance in life and if there is something that would make it more exciting then yes. We will see what happens. I don't think it will change much. I don't feel it needs to because it is unique. We have a problem because games are becoming more and more demanding but we must always think about the people who are coming to watch the game. They like the tradition of the game, they like the tradition of the past. "We don't want to be stuck in the past but many things from the past are good for the game and we want to keep them. I always say to be open to change but I don't like changes if they are only for people to say they have changed something."