Sakho likely to play despite arrest

The 6.05 ft striker played a crucial part in his teams’ victory over Arsenal last Sunday and will be hopeful of making it to the squad that faces Leicester City this coming weekend.

Elsewhere, Morgan Amalfitano’s future is in real doubt – it looks likely he will be bombed out of the club following a training ground bust-up.

One of the most interesting match ups of Saturday’s Barclay’s Premier League will see Leicester City travel to London to take on West Ham at Upton Park.

“I have to protect the team”.

The test for West Ham now is whether or not they can continue making big strides under Bilic in the knowledge that it will be harder every week. And the fact Oxford is already a first-team player for the Hammers vindicates his words. If I feel that someone is damaging it in a way, I have to react. And I did that.

He added: “It was nothing or nowhere near what was in the papers”.

Bilic, who has managed clubs in both Russian Federation and Turkey, spoke about how the two countries try to encourage teams to use homegrown and young talent.

The east Londoners recorded a 12th place Premier League finish but it did not prove to be enough to convince co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan that the 60-year-old deserved to keep his job.

It’s the first game of the season so a win isn’t vital, but based on the manner in which the Hammers finished last season, there will be a determination from Bilic for a professional and positive performance.

Former Newcastle and Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton is having a medical at West Ham, reports talkSPORT.

Jimenez, who managed just one goal in La Liga last term, emerged as the primary target and a deal is nearing completion.

West Ham are in pole position to sign Joey Barton for free and would be taking a huge gamble on the 29 year old if they sign him. “We discussed, we had some talks and ideas about him”.

“It is a good experience for a few of the youngsters but some of the guys who played tonight showed us they are going to be very useful”, said the manager.