Bilic on striker’s future

Slaven Bilic has admitted that Michail Antonio’s absence at Sunderland  is a “massive blow, of course.”

And he added: “We know what he is giving us in every game. He’s one of our best players, so it’s going to be a big blow that we’re going to be without him for the rest of the season.”

“ It’s a good thing that, despite Michail’s injury, we have options. Calleri did really well when he came on against Swansea with his energy, with his pressing and with his creating open spaces for other people. Also, he had a couple of good chances.”

And he indicated that he may be ready to keep Calleri saying: “He is a very good professional, a very good boy. He didn’t play a lot. He played at the start of the season and in the middle of the season. He is not a regular, but he never dropped one per cent of energy in training.

“He is great to have around. He is training like he is playing 90 minutes every week, he is doing his best and that’s why he deserved a chance. He played really well when he came on against Swansea and it’s good to have him.”

“We’re going to see with Andy. He is always a big weapon for us and a threat for the opponent. It’s a good thing we have options, and we’re definitely going to need both of them on Saturday to share the minutes of the game. Who’s going to start? We’re going to decide on Saturday, of course.”