Slaven Bilic resisting calls from fans to select in-form Under 23 forward Antonio Martinez for Liverpool clash

  • Slaven Bilic is resisting calls to call up prolific Under 23 striker Antonio Martinez
  • Martinez has scored eight goals in nine games for the B team this season 
  • Fans are urging Bilic to give the youngster a chance against Liverpool
  • The Croatian is under heavy pressure with the Hammers without a win in three 

Slaven Bilic is resisting calls to put West Ham’s prolific Under 23 striker Antonio Martinez into his Premier League squad.

Fans want the 20-year-old Spaniard, who has scored eight goals in nine games for the B team this season and hit two in the 3-1 Checkatrade Trophy win at Bristol Rovers last night, included to face Liverpool on Saturday.

But club staff are worried that Martinez is not yet physically ready to step up.

Slaven Bilic is resisting calls to put prolific Under 23 striker Antonio Martinez into his squad

Slaven Bilic is resisting calls to put prolific Under 23 striker Antonio Martinez into his squad

Martinez has been on fire this season and scored nine goals in eight games for the B team

Martinez has been on fire this season and scored nine goals in eight games for the B team

The highly rated Spaniard was snapped up by the Hammers last April and has gone about making a name for himself in the West Ham ranks.


Bilic, under pressure at the club after a prolonged period of poor form, looks unlikely to succumb to the demands to play Martinez, despite the club lacking a clinical goal scorer.

The Hammers' recent 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace emphasized the current predicament for the East London club, with striker Javier Hernandez finding it difficult to get involved in the action.

West Ham host Liverpool on Sunday at the London Stadium.

Defeat could well see Bilic's side slip into the relegation places, after 11 games played this season. 

Bilic will resist the urge to play in-form Martinez, despite his senior side struggling on the pitch

Bilic will resist the urge to play in-form Martinez, despite his senior side struggling on the pitch