West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has denied claims of a rift between he and Diafra Sakho.

Reports suggested that the Senegalese striker refused to travel to Sunderland to sit on the bench last weekend but Bilic has revealed that his ongoing back problem was the reason for keeping him out of the 2-2 draw.

"He was injured," the Hammers boss said.

"There was no row, I should know about that because it was me who spoke with him."

Sakho will be hoping to prove his fitness ahead of West Ham's home clash with Everton on Saturday.