Bilic is delighted to be able to call upon one of his key men.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has told BBC Sport that returning striker Andy Carroll is “a miracle” because of what he brings to the team.
Carroll made his first start since August in the 1-0 victory over Burnley on Wednesday night and immediately added a dimension to the Hammers attack which had been desperately missing.
Though he was not presented with many chances himself, and could not score from what opportunities he did have, his physical presence in the penalty area makes life far easier for his teammates.
After the game, Bilic reiterated to BBC Sport that he is a huge fan of the former England striker, and insisted that his importance to the team could not be overstated.
Bilic said: “It’s no secret I’m a big fan of him. I’m not a big fan because he’s a cousin or relative. It’s what I see on the training pitch. He is a miracle. What he gives to the team is massive.”
Carroll has managed just 39 Premier League starts in three-and-a-half years at West Ham, such have been the frequency of his injury problems.
Bilic will be desperate to see him hold onto his fitness for the foreseeable future after being given a reminder of just what his side are missing without the 27-year-old.
The Croatian boss added that he was delighted to get a win in such an important game after the spirited draw against Liverpool at Anfield at the weekend.
He said: “It was a very important game for us. It was a very long game – the longest game we’ve been involved in.
“Well done to the players, we showed the character. I think we deserved it. We dominated the first half. We had shots that hit the post. We had two penalty appeals. We should have been ahead by more than one goal looking at the quantities of chances.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
