West Ham injury news: Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho could return against Southampton, says Slaven Bilic

Return: Bilic is hopeful two of his strikers will be fit by early February
Ian Walton/Getty Images
Sam Long22 January 2016

Slaven Bilic is hopeful both Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho will return to fitness in time for West Ham's trip to face Southampton on February 8.

The Hammers currently occupy sixth place in the Premier League table and are just four points adrift of the top four, despite having to endure an injury crisis in recent weeks.

Several key players have already returned to fitness - including talisman Dimitri Payet - but the east Londoners' attacking options are still depleted.

Nikica Jelavic and Enner Valencia are the only two fit forwards at Bilic's disposal as Carroll and Sakho remain sidelined with respective hamstring and thigh injuries.

But the Croatian manager has suggested the pair could return to action in just 17 days time.

"On the injury front, we hope to have Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho available when we play Southampton on February 8," he told Standard Sport.

Carroll's career at Upton Park has been plagued by fitness issues and he has scored three goals in 13 top-flight appearances this term.

Sakho has also found the net on three occasions but has missed the club's last eight Premier League fixtures through injury.

West Ham face games against Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa before they travel to St. Mary's to face Ronald Koeman's side early next month.

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