LIVE
...

Follow us on

Soccer News

Slaven Bilic provides fitness update on West Ham United’s Diafra Sakho

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic (REUTERS)
Follow us on Google Discover

West Ham United striker Diafra Sakho has played just twice this season.

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic during the match

West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic has told Football.London that Diafra Sakho’s imminent return is great news.

Sakho has been out with injury for most of the season so far, and has managed to play just twice.

The Frenchman has not featured in 2017, but he is set to return to full training soon.

And Bilic has hinted that Sakho could start for West Ham again in the near future, although this weekend’s match against Hull City will come too early for him.

“Diafra Sakho? He has been out for a long time with after his back operation, it was not a small injury,” Bilic said.

“He has been training very good with the medical staff then did some with the U21s. Today is the first day he will train with us without any restrictions, he is back on the list of fit players for training but then we have to consider the amount of time that he was out.

“He is going to be back, hopefully, very very soon and that’s great news but the Hull game, no. Although he is very positive, pushing in a good way but we have to see how fit he really is.

“There is a big difference between starting to train and then the game. We aren’t going to wait long but as I said, we will see what his fitness is like. Hopefully, he will be back soon.”

Sakho’s absence for West Ham has been a big blow this season, as Bilic’s options up-front have been limited.

The Hammers have used a number of different players as their main striker, but have not been able to find a reliable goalscorer like Sakho.

If Sakho does return for the run in, it could be important as West Ham look to break out of their poor run of form.

The Hammers haven’t been victorious in five matches, and the pressure is now building on Bilic to get his side back to winning ways.

Diafra Sakho celebrates after scoring the first goal for West Ham