The manager faced the press ahead of Saturday's game with Sunderland

Ahead of Saturday’s game with Sunderland, Slaven Bilic held his weekly pre-match press conference.



During the briefing, the manager answered questions on Sam Allardyce’s return to the Boleyn, team news and …



Is it true Andy Carroll and Winston Reid could be back for Saturday?



SB: “They are back in training so that is a positive. Manuel Lanzini has been back in training for a while so that’s good, and he is getting back to full fitness. Andy is back which of course is good. Winston is improving, maybe not for Saturday but soon. But it is looking good, touch wood.”



How important is it to have players coming back at this time of the season?



SB: “Very important, the whole squad has done brilliantly throughout the season, whenever we have had injuries. They have all been great. Now we are approaching the final quarter of the season it is crucial we continue to do well.”



Cheikhou Kouyate had his red card rescinded, are you surprised at that decision?



SB: “For me it was obvious, this wasn’t a nasty or bad challenge. We hoped and we expected this decision so we are happy. It’s great to have this option in England, in most other countries you can’t even discuss it. So it is great that you can appeal these decisions, referees are only people and they can make mistakes. So it’s important because the stakes are so high, it is good for English football.”



Saturday’s game is obviously the first time Sam Allardyce is back at Upton Park, how do you think the fans should reflect on his time in charge?



SB: “Well they should respect him, he done great for West Ham. He is one of the most famous and long serving English managers, 20 years or so, very successful and charismatic one. He got us back from the Championship and then stabilised the club in the Premier League so he has done amazing job and he should be praised big time.”



Now it seems likely that the last game at the Boleyn Ground will be Manchester United in midweek, how do you feel about that?



SB: “We still don’t know for certain but it is likely. I think it’ll good, Manchester United are huge so it is a big game for a huge stadium. I think it’ll be a great night, it would be anyway. But it’ll be about Upton Park and the history so it will be a fantastic day and a fantastic occasion.”



Do you think Sam Allardyce will keep Sunderland in the league?



SB: “He has done a good already stabilising them and they are harder to beat, they are more organised. They got four points against Liverpool away and Manchester United, any club in the world would take that. Even when they were 2-0 down at Anfield, they didn’t give up. There’s still a long way to go but they have a big chance to stay up.”