Keeping a fully fit West Ham squad happy is 'impossible' for Slaven Bilic

1/21

Slaven Bilic believes it will be impossible to keep all his West Ham forwards happy as they return to full fitness.

Bilic welcomed Manuel Lanzini back to the fold during their 1-0 win over Swansea City, while Michail Antonio recovered from a groin injury picked up a week ago.

The Hammers manager, has had persistent battles with injuries to key players over the past twelve months, now knows he has hard task in finding balance in the squad.

"My job is not to make them happy," Bilic said. "I mean it is a bonus if they are all happy, but it is impossible to have all the players happy.

"I have to make a fine balance between being solid and being dangerous when we have the ball.

"Sometimes it gives you a headache, who you will play when they are all fit. But my job is to look after the team and to treat every one of them in a good and decent way, then to try and keep them [on their] toes for the whole season.

"Put it this way, if Diafra Sakho and Arthur Masuaku weren’t on their toes last week or the week before they shouldn’t be able to perform like this [combining for the winner], and that is what I have to do."

The Hammers would have been at their full complement going forward if it were not for Marko Arnautovic's absence.

The summer signing withdrew from the squad on Friday night through illness, but come the end of the international break, Bilic should be a full roster to pick from - meaning there is plenty to think about for the manager.

"But you are right," Bilic added.

"When we are thinking about our team I want to be solid and you have to be solid when you play on this level of football but we were trying to build a team that can also play with the ball and pass with the ball and be dangerous, so it is good to have them back."