Lanzini back in contention

 

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has confirmed that Manuel Lanzini is hoping to be back in contention for the Premier League game against Leicester on Saturday.

Lanzini missed the 4-1 Boxing Day victory over Swansea after picking up a rib injury during the last home win over Hull at London Stadium.

The Argentine midfielder was forced to rest over the Christmas period, but he is now hoping to resume training with the rest of the first-team squad and declare his fitness for the game at the King Power Stadium.

Spanish midfielder Pedro Obiang is also available for selection once again after serving a one-match ban against Swansea.

Bilic said: “Manuel Lanzini will train with us and we will see for Leicester because he got a knock in his abdominal part (of his body) against Hull and missed the Swansea game.

“He missed a few training sessions but will be back with us for the first time (on Thursday) so we will see for the Leicester game.

“Everyone else who played in the Swansea game should be okay. We had a regeneration session for the players who featured against Swansea on Wednesday.

“Obiang is back from suspension and we are going to have a good team.”

Bilic
There was more good news on the injury front after Bilic revealed that talented duo Sam Byram and Reece Oxford are also back training with the first-team squad this week.

Byram has been ruled out of action since the start of October after picking up a hamstring injury during the 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough.

Oxford, who recently signed a new four-and-a-half year contract with the Club, has also faced a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury, but both players are now closing in on a return to action.

Bilic added: “Sam started to train with us on Wednesday and he is looking good. We are going to see about his match fitness because he lacks some of it, but it is good to have him back in training.

“Reece Oxford starts training for the first time in five or six weeks because of his ankle so the players are coming back.

“Next week we should have James Collins back as well. A few of them are going to be back in action.”