West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has explained allowing Charlie Austin to join Southampton.

The striker is set to make his first Southampton start tomorrow against West Ham at St Mary's.

Bilic said: “I spoke to Mr Sullivan in the first transfer window back in August and Charlie Austin was a name that was big time on our list. The chairman at that time spoke very highly about Charlie Austin.

“But when we got some other players and some others stayed with us for the season, then I decided - and I decided - that we don't need that type of player.

“We had strikers, the only problem we had was injuries. So we didn't need that type of player, that's all."