Bilic backs Payet to repeat success

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic is confident Dimitri Payet can repeat the success he enjoyed last year where he helped the Hammers to a seventh-placed Premier League finish.

Payet was joint top-scorer for West Ham last season, his first in the Premier League, and was a major factor in Bilic’s successful first season in charge.

The Hammers face Chelsea later tonight and the United boss is happy that his side won’t become over-reliant on the Frenchman.

“I don’t believe he will be a marked man this season,” Bilic said.

“People are trying to mark great players all their careers because they are great players and can get out of that situation.

(Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)

“Psychologically it is a big season for him as he will want to repeat what he did last season and we will do everything to help him and I see no reason why he cannot repeat that.

“Dimitri will not do everything by himself and it was not the case last year.”

The only man able to match Payet’s nine goals for the Hammers last year was Andy Carroll and Bilic is expecting big things from the 6ft3 striker.

“It is a massive season for Andy Carroll. What gives us hope is that he has done the whole of pre-season,” Bilic added.

“When you want to sign a striker who will score 20 goals season if you look at his stats he can get you that. But the amount of games he was available, it was not 20 but only nine goals.

“It is not tiredness, but his situation that he was not available the whole season. We hope he will be injury free this season.”