Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho close to return, says Slaven Bilic
Thursday 11 February 2016 11:38, UK
Slaven Bilic has revealed that long-term injury absentees Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho are close to making their return to action for West Ham, but admits James Tomkins' injury is a big blow to his squad.
Tomkins has been ruled out for five weeks after sustaining a calf injury against Southampton last weekend, and the Hammers will also be without Cheikhou Kouyate as they travel to Norwich on Saturday after he suffered mild concussion during Tuesday night's dramatic 2-1 FA Cup win over Liverpool.
But Bilic's team will be boosted as midfielder Lanzini, who suffered a thigh injury against Liverpool in January, returns to full training again this weekend, while Senegalese international Sakho will rejoin the first-team set up later this month after recovering from a muscle strain.
"On Sunday Lanzini will start training with the team again, which is a big boost for us," he said. "Sakho will be back maybe five days after.
"Kouyate is doing well, but because of the rules he cannot play in the game because he was unconscious on the pitch.
"But we have enough players to put a very strong team out on Saturday."
West Ham will face a Norwich side on Saturday who are looking for their first Premier League win since the start of January as they struggle to escape the relegation zone.
Defenders Winston Reid and Joey O'Brien are unlikely to feature at Carrow Road after both limping off with hamstring injuries on Tuesday, but Bilic remains optimistic despite his lack of options in defence.
"Winston Reid and Joey O'Brien have hamstring injuries," Bilic continued. "They will have scans today and then we'll know how long it will take for them.
"James Tomkins is out for five weeks after the Southampton game, so that's three defenders out.
"In that department it's not a very great situation for us, but I think the knocks will be ok."
