Bilic faces huge Burnley selection test

Slaven Bilic could be facing the biggest test of his season so far at the weekend and not necessarily from the opposition but from himself.

The Hammers boss look likely to have an entirely fit squad for the trip to Burnley which will give him the opportunity to field his strongest team so far.

This will test him like never before as he bids firstly to name his strongest team and secondly to keep his top names happy by giving them game time – and playing them in the correct position!

He recently told the London Evening Standard: “My job is not to make them happy. I mean it is a bonus if they are all happy, but it is impossible to have all the players happy. I have to make a fine balance between being solid and being dangerous when we have the ball.

With Pedro Obiang expected to be fit, Bilic has to choose whether Mark Noble gets the nod ahead of him or Cheik Kouyate whilst he also has something of a dilemma on the left side where Arthur Masuaku has been outstanding on his recent appearances.

And a question still remains as to when the manager will be prepared to give young Declan Rice a recall to the starting line-up after hauling him off following a mistake against Newcastle in August.

Then comes the perennial Andy Carroll situation and whether he should be made to give way for Chicharito through the middle or Diafra Sakho who is back in goal scoring form.

Here’s the line-up ClaretandHugh would like to see the manager play at Turf Moor: Hart; Zabaleta, Reid, Rice, Masuaku; Obiang, Kouyate; Antonio, Arnautovic, Lanzini; Chicharito.

That would effectively see us playing four at the back with Obiang and Kouyate sitting behind Antonio and Arnie with Lanzini at the top of the three behind Chicharito in a fluid 4-2-3-1.

Subs: Adrian, Cresswell, Fonte, Byram, Noble, Carroll, Sakho