West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has faith in goalkeeper Darren Randolph, ahead of his imminent Premier League debut against AFC Bournemouth. The Irish international shot-stopper is set to start in between the sticks in place of the suspended Spaniard Adrian.
According to Rob Maul of the Daily Express, the Croatian manager is not concerned about the 28-year-old coming into the first team. Randolph played a key part in the UEFA Europa League qualification process, having kept clean sheets both home and away against Andorran outfit FC Lusitans.
Bilic praised Randolph’s career thus far: ‘Every serious goalkeeper has more than 100 games under his belt, whether it’s for Real Madrid or Hajduk Split.‘ He joined in the summer having played all but one of Birmingham’s matches in the Championship since August 2013.
With Adrian being the runner-up in the Hammer of the Year award for the previous two campaigns, there is perhaps a huge burden of responsibility on the shoulders of Randolph.
The former started the season impressively with a clean sheet at the Emirates, but a lapse in concentration at home to Leicester City led to referee Anthony Taylor dismissing the goalkeeper in the last minute.
Bilic also said: ‘Randy is a very experienced goalkeeper, he’s very calm and confident. He knows we are backing him up and are there for him.‘ Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Robert Green has been linked with a move back to Upton Park in the meantime.
He continued: ‘I see absolutely no problems for him to be in goal against Bournemouth. What happened last season in one or two games, well it could happen to anyone.‘ Randolph conceded twelve goals against Eddie Howe’s side during the 2014/15 campaign, whilst in the Championship.
