London Football News

Bilic optimistic on injuries and defiant on Payet

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is confident Andy Carroll, Winston Reid and Sam Byram will be fit for Saturday’s game at Middlesbrough despite picking up injuries against Crystal Palace.

Carroll, who scored a brilliant goal in the 3-0 win over the Eagles, has been nursing a neck strain but has trained fully this week and will be in the squad for the trip to Teesside.

Byram, who came on as a half-time substitute, and centre-back Reid picked up knocks against Palace and are also expected to be available this weekend.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday morning, Bilic explained: “The physios told me Andy Carroll had whiplash at the end of the game, but he trained hard on Tuesday and hopefully he will be okay.

“We had a couple of knocks with Sam Byram and Winston Reid, but hopefully they will be okay. I am optimistic all of them will be fit.”

Meanwhile, Bilic has again insisted that his club will not be pressured into selling Dimitri Payet on the cheap.

The Hammers have turned down offers from the Frenchman’s former club Marseille, who are keen to re-sign him.

Payet, 29, wants to leave and has indicated that he is keen to return to Marseille for family reasons.

“We’re not going to sell our best players on the cheap just because somebody wants to sign them or they want to go,” Bilic said.




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