Manchester United vs West Ham team news: Slaven Bilic hints at ditching back three in Winston Reid's absence

Seeing red: Reid was sent off in the last minute's of defeat to Tottenham
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James Benge25 November 2016

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has hinted that he may change his system to cover for the absent Winston Reid in Sunday’s trip to Manchester United.

The New Zealand centre-back received a second suspension of the season when he was sent off in injury time during West Ham’s 3-2 defeat to Tottenham.

Recent weeks have seen Bilic resort to the back three he employed to some success last season, partnering midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate with Reid and Angelo Ogbonna. Whilst James Collins would make a like-for-like switch the West Ham boss suggested that the absence of his vice-captain may prompt a change in system.

“[Reid] has been instrumental,” Bilic said. “He has been really good since we changed the system.

In Pictures | Tottenham vs West Ham | 19/11/2016

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“He was suspended for the game against Stoke and we have players we can put in without changing the system, or we can change it.”

West Ham could also be without Pedro Obiang, who picked up an ankle injury in the defeat at White Hart Lane, though Bilic is optimistic he will be available for Saturday.

One player unlikely to feature from the off at Old Trafford is Simone Zaza, the subject of renewed speculation over a return to Italy after going ten games without a goal since his loan arrival from Juventus.

The terms of that loan deal mandate West Ham to buy the Italian international for around £20million after he completes plays a specified number of games but Bilic claimed that the clause would not stop him turning to the misfiring 25-year-old.

“I believe in him,” he said. “He’s our player and it’s not only him but we need him to, with the help of teammates, to start producing and doing what we got him for.

“If he starts or doesn’t start games, it has nothing to do with the clause but only on his training performances and performances in games.”

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