Lanzini returns to boost Hammers ahead of Swansea City clash

By Sam Tonks

West Ham head into a second successive league game at London Stadium with Swansea City the visitors this weekend.

The first traditional 3pm kick-off at home this season, following a monday night win over Huddersfield Town, and a hotly-contested lunchtime derby with Tottenham Hotspur at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park venue.

Swansea come into the game unbeaten away from home with one win and two draws, scoring two and conceding none, but were defeated at home to Watford last weekend.

The Hammers have had a boost with Bilic confirming the return of Manuel Lanzini to the squad after injury, and a possible reintroduction of Michail Antonio after the forward was forced off in the Hammers' last outing.

“Lanzini is in the squad, he will be in the squad against Swansea,” said Bilic.

“His (Antonio's)  injury wasn’t that bad and there was always a chance he would be available for the game with Swansea.

“There’s only basically Pedro Obiang, who still feels it a bit after the West Brom game, the rest are okay.”

Javier Hernandez scored his first home goal last week and Bilic sees promise in his partnership with Andy Carroll, both are in contention to link-up again on Saturday.

“I see a lot of potential in that partnership,” he said.

“The key for us is like in one hand we want to get the stability and, if we are talking about conceding goals, then we have to be more stable.

If you’re asking me, do I believe in the pair? Of course.”

Another thing Bilic believes in is settling in at London Stadium and reveals a homely feeling around the club.

“I felt towards the end of last season it was becoming like home,” said Bilic.

“We got that feeling back with those three home games and now hopefully this Spurs game was only in-between a successful series for us.”