Slaven Bilic heaps praise on West Brom medical team

The Baggies were hugely unfortunate to fall to a 1-0 loss at Manchester United last weekend – a match both Jake Livermore and Kieran Gibbs missed after testing positive for coronavirus.

But Bilic revealed other players, including Sam Field, as well as some of his staff members also tested positive before the trip to Old Trafford. But while one player is still feeling under the weather, everyone else is on the mend heading into tomorrow’s crucial clash against Chris Wilder’s Blades.

“I have to praise our medical team because a couple of weeks ago we had many cases, maybe 15 cases, it was a high,” Bilic said.

“It didn’t affect the game that much, a couple of them didn’t play against Spurs before the international break.

“A few of them weren’t in the squad against Manchester United but it was good timing at least, because it was the international break.

“Thank God, and thanks to our medical team and the players and staff who looked after themselves, from the tests that we did on Monday, all the tests were negative.

“Jake Livermore and Kieran Gibbs are negative, but unfortunately even though they’re negative one of them still feels a bit rough. For one of them the game is probably going to be a bit too early, but we’re going to see.”

“It’s good news for us. All the other guys are well and okay.”

Meanwhile Bilic confirmed midfielder Field is now over the knee problem he picked up in training and also COVID-19.

“Sam is a bit of an unlucky guy with injuries,” the boss added.

“He had that thing in training after the Southampton game.

“Then he got coronavirus and he was out.

“Now he’s back. Maybe corona helped a little bit, because he was on the verge of joining us but then but it might have been a bit too early.

“Now we have double secured it. He’s back, he’s negative regarding the virus and his knee is stable. It’s good.

“He’s a very positive lad, I like him as a player, he knows that.”