Bilic gets big boost

Slaven Bilic has delivered a happy confirmation that Michail Antonio is back for the game against Saints this weekend.

Speaking at his pre-match presser he said: “He has been with us for two-and-a-half weeks now. He did 90 minutes on a big pitch in the Under-23s and then he came back to train with us and he looks good and he looks ready.”

However, the game has come a week too soon for Cheikhou Kouyate and Andy Carroll but both are back in full training and set for a return at Newcastle next weekend.

The manager said: ““On Wednesday, Cheikhou and Andy started to train with us, so they have done a couple of sessions.

“We are going to see with them because both of them, especially Andy, had a long lay-off. Andy was out since April and Cheikhou had a few weeks off, as his injury basically happened in our first pre-season training session in Austria.”

And he said Manu Lanzini (pictured above) is training individually adding: “He is joining us on Monday, so we are going to have a full squad back for the Newcastle game.

“We will have Mikey back 100 per cent for this game [at Southampton], but for Cheikhou and for Andy, it’s a bit too early, I think.”