West Ham United duo Cheikhou Kouyate and Michail Antonio could return for this weekend’s clash against Southampton, however the the Hammers will remain without star midfielder Manuel Lanzini, reports the Evening Standard.
Slaven Bilic’s side have been without a number of their key men throughout pre-season, and those players were sorely missed on the opening day of the season as the Croat’s side succumbed to a dismal 4-0 defeat to Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.
However, ahead of this Saturday’s clash at St Mary’s, Bilic has been given a boost in the news of the returns of Antonio and Kouyate.
Antonio – an England international – had been out injured since April, however has played for the club’s U23s in recent weeks and is expected to start against the Saints at the weekend. Cheikhou Kouyate is likely to start on the bench.
Bilic had hoped that talisman Manuel Lanzini would be fit for the tie after suffering a leg injury in pre-season, however the Argentine is now not expected to return to first team training until next week.
