West Ham United host Sunderland at the London Stadium this weekend.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic before the game
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has told the London Evening Standard that his team will be coming up against one of the best strikers in the league this weekend in Jermain Defoe.
The striker was the key man for the Black Cats last season as his 15 goals in the league almost single-handedly kept them in the Premier League.
He has been among the goals again this season despite his side struggling again, with four goals in eight league games so far.
He will be confident of extending that tally against the Hammers, who have already conceded 17 goals in this campaign.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe in action
And Bilic is more than aware of that threat, labeling the veteran as one of the best finishers in the division.
“We are up against one of the best finishers in the business when we meet Sunderland tomorrow in Jermain Defoe,” he told the London Evening Standard.
“His movement and timing are exceptional and an example to any young striker in how to lose a defender.”
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe celebrates scoring their second goal
The Hammers boss will likely have been doing his research on Defoe to try and find a way to contain him this weekend.
Luckily for Bilic, there is a lot of evidence to be analysed, with the striker having spent the vast majority of his career plying his trade in the Premier League.
He played for Tottenham Hotspur in two separate spells, one of which saw him playing alongside Croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar and Bilic says the midfielder was full of praise for him.
“I remember talking to Niko Kranjcar about him when I was Croatia coach. Niko had been with Jermain at Tottenham and said he was the best finisher he had played with,” he added.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
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