West Ham Boss Confirms Huge Double Injury Boost As Duo Return For Liverpool Clash

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has confirmed a huge double injury boost with Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio passed fit to face Liverpool this weekend.

Cresswell has become a key player for the Hammers over the past couple of years and was sorely missed during last weekend’s disappointing 5-1 hammering from Arsenal after he was forced to miss the game with a groin strain.

However, Cresswell has made a swift recovery with Bilic confirming at his pre-match press conference today that the left-back has been able to train this week and is now fit and available for Sunday’s trip to Anfield.

In a double boost, winger Antonio has also returned to full training and is back in contention to take on Liverpool after also sitting out last Saturday’s loss to Arsenal with a groin problem.

However, it wasn’t all positive news from Bilic this afternoon as the Croatian coach also revealed that Cheikhou Kouyate remains on the sidelines with his own groin complaint so misses the trip to Merseyside.

It adds to the West Ham manager’s injury problems as James Collins is out with a muscle injury while Rees Oxford, Sam Byram, Diafra Sakho and Gokhan Tore will also miss the Liverpool game through injury.

Bilic has adopted a three at the back formation this season but he may be tempted to switch to a flat back four at Anfield with Cresswell, Ogbonna, Reid and Arbeloa making up the defence.

West Ham head in to the game in desperate need of a positive result as last weeks 5-1 loss to Arsenal has left them sitting 17th in the table and just one point above the relegation zone.

"Antonio and Cresswell have been training and are available for Sunday. We hoped Cheikhou would be back but it has come too soon." #COYI

— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) December 9, 2016