Carroll return can present Bilic with a birthday bonus
ANDY CARROLL is ready to ride to Slaven Bilic’s rescue, with West Ham players admitting they owe their manager a win against Huddersfield tomorrow.
Carroll has been out for five months with a groin injury but returned to full training during the international break.
Now Bilic, under mounting pressure with his side propping up the Premier League after three straight away defeats, may be ready to gamble on his talismanic striker in West Ham’s first home game of the season.
With Bilic’s job reported to be on the line in this match, James Collins says he and his team-mates have let down their manager, who turns 49 tomorrow.
‘Birthday or not everyone at the club would like to get the boss three points,’ Collins said.
‘He’s been under tremendous pressure.
‘It’s crazy in football that the managers get put under so much pressure when sometimes really the players need to look at themselves.
‘We know we haven’t performed and the manager has done the best he can. I feel like we owe the gaffer a performance and hopefully we can do that on Monday.
‘He takes it all on his shoulders but the players need to put in a performance for him.’
West Ham will be without the injured Manuel Lanzini and Andre Ayew, while Marko Arnautovic is suspended. Carroll’s return cannot come soon enough for Bilic and there could be a place on the bench for Diafra Sakho.