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Hooper to referee West Ham game

Simon Hooper has been appointed to take charge of AFC Bournemouth’s Premier League clash with West Ham on Saturday.

The Swindon-born whistler was one of two referees promoted to Select Group 1 this season and has been in the middle for four Premier League games.

He refereed the Cherries’ 2-0 defeat by Wolves at Molineux in December where he showed yellow cards to both Steve Cook and Jefferson Lerma.

The 36-year-old also took charge of the Cherries’ 3-2 victory over Blackburn in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Vitality Stadium in September.

He has yet to brandish a red card in six games in the top flight, the first of which was Crystal Palace’s 3-1 win at Norwich in August 2015.

Hooper officiated the 2016-17 League One play-off final when Millwall triumphed 1-0 against Bradford City at Wembley.

He will be assisted at Vitality Stadium by Adrian Holmes and Derek Eaton, while Kevin Friend is fourth official.