West Ham United co-owner David Gold says Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna will be fit to face Everton, but there is no selection dilemma for Slaven Bilic.
Reid and Ogbonna had forged an impressive partnership in central defence for the Hammers as they made one of their best ever starts to a Premier League season.
Ogbonna was brought in by Bilic as a first choice centre back for £8 million from Juventus in the summer while Reid is arguably West Ham’s best player.
But the Italian international has not started a game for nearly two months after limping off injured in the win over Newcastle in September while Reid has been missing through injury since the 2-2 draw at Sunderland at the beginning of October.
First choice duo set to return
Deputising in their absence James Tomkins and James Collins impressed in back-to-back London derby wins over Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
But all their good work was undone when they endured a difficult afternoon in the 2-0 defeat to Watford last time out.
The pair were given a torrid time by Hornets striker pair Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney. To compound matters Tomkins made a hash of a clearance to gift Watford their second goal while Collins was sent off late on.
Co-owner Gold took to Twitter to reassure Hammers fans their first choice defensive duo will be back for the visit of the Toffees.
He said: “Ogbonna and Reid should be available for Saturday.”
Tomkins and Collins have given Bilic an easy decision to make
Although Collins will be suspended so will need to be replaced, he probably would have been anyway given his performance at Vicarage Road.
But Tomkins could well lose his place too and neither could have any complaints.
They would argue they didn’t get much protection from the midfield but come Everton on Saturday Bilic will need to feel sure his defence is up to coping with the threat of Romelu Lukaku.
Ogbonna and Reid have already shackled some of the best attacking outfits in the Premier League so far this season and after the Hammers’ Halloween horror show against Watford they will surely be reunited come kick-off at Upton Park on Saturday.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
