Slaven Bilic has confirmed Marko Arnautovic will return to the matchday squad as West Ham United face West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Saturday.
The Hammers travel to the Midlands on the back of Monday’s crucial 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town at London Stadium, while the Baggies are without a win in two following a draw with Stoke and a 3-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion at the weekend.
Austrian Arnautovic has missed the last three matches through suspension following his red card in a 3-2 defeat against Southampton at St. Mary’s.
The winger did, however, complete two 90 minutes for his country over the international break and is available for selection this weekend having served his three-match ban.
West Ham boss Bilic also issued updates on Mark Noble, Edimilson Fernandes and Manuel Lanzini, all of whom missed this week’s clash against the Terriers.
“Marko is back,” Bilic, speaking to the press before Saturday’s trip, confirmed. “He will be in the squad for the game against West Brom.
“It does [give us a selection headache]. It’s good to have him back.
“Mark [Noble] got a knock on his knee, and it’s nothing serious but he obviously couldn’t play against Huddersfield. He trained today and it’s much better, nothing serious.
Marko will be in the squad for the game against West Brom. It gives us a selection headache. It's good to have him back
Slaven Bilic
“But he definitely won’t play this week – it would be difficult for West Brom. Maybe he will be back for the Bolton game, but not the weekend.
“We have a few bruises and knocks because the game was on Monday and not Saturday or Sunday, but the squad should be fit apart from Noble and then Lanzini and Fernandes who also missed Huddersfield.
“Fernandes will train in a couple of days but Lanzini hopefully will only be out for one or two more weeks. He is running and training with the ball – so far, so good.”
Meanwhile, Andy Carroll returned to Slaven Bilic’s side from the start against Huddersfield and was influential as the east Londoners picked up their first Premier League points of the season.
The manager explained how the Club are managing the Big Man's fitness.
“There are some players – and Andy’s one – that you have to find special treatment for, for training. You can’t treat him like a 20-year-old, who can train for six hours a day, but of course he has got to train.
“You can’t treat him like Declan Rice or Domingos Quina. But you need to find a balance. That is exactly what we are doing now.
“It’s good at the moment and we are hoping that is going to last.”