Bilic announces an unchanged team without Sakho

Slaven Bilic has announced an unchanged team to face Stoke City meaning Mark Noble and Sam Byram will need to wait for their chance from the bench.  Winston Reid, Cheik Kouyate and Arthur Masuaku all passed late fitness tests to be included.

However, as reported earlier both Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho did not board the team bus because of injury.

The official club twitter account has revealed that Diafra Sakho has a back injury despite it being reported as a knock and a slight knock this morning on the official website.  Meanwhile, Andy Carroll misses through an ongoing groin problem.

Last month the club’s medics said of Sakho “After undergoing back surgery and three months of rehab, a player needs time to reach sufficient fitness levels before we can contemplate making him available for selection in the Premier League.”

Reports in March he would not be available again for the remainder of the season. Today suggests he came back too early and those earlier reports were correct.