Slaven Bilic says he had sympathy for former England boss Steve McClaren after he was sacked following defeat to Bilic's Croatia side in 2008 as West Ham United prepare to meet Newcastle United this evening.

The pair, now in charge of West Ham and Newcastle respectively, will meet in the dug-out for the first time since Bilic and co. ran out 3-2 winners at Wembley in November 2007 after the Three Lions had come back from 2-0 down to level the clash.

However, Croatia grabbed a third through Mladen Petric and defeat meant England missed out on the 2008 European Championships, thus ending McClaren's reign as manager of the national side.

But speaking to the press ahead of tonight's meeting at Upton Park (kick-off 8pm), Bilic was at pains to stress the game was about more than a non-existant rivalry between the two.

He said: "That game wasn't Steve McClaren-Slaven Bilic, it was England-Croatia and on Monday it's West Ham-Newcastle.

"I had sympathy for Steve, like I have sympathy now for the Croatia coach (Niko Kovac) who was sacked this week because we lost in Oslo. I have sympathy for every coach because you lose jobs. And not only do you lose jobs but they (the press) slaughter you big time.

"That wasn't just a normal game, we played really well. England came back to 2-2 and then we scored again. Of course I felt sympathy because I know how it works.

"But then Steve recovered really well to go to Holland. I went to see him when Mario Mandzukic was playing at Wolfsburg. We spent two or three hours chatting, and I have known him for a long, long time.

"When he started as Jim Smith's assistant at Derby County my two colleagues from Croatia, Igor Stimac and Aljosa Asanovic, were playing there.

"We spoke and they were telling me he was a brilliant young coach. Then he went to Manchester United and Middlesbrough and I rate him big, big time.

"He was brave enough and had enough quality to prove himself in different leagues and now he's back in the Premier League and I'm glad for him."

Bilic is not the only Hammer set for a reunion tonight as striker Andy Carroll could be in line to make his first appearance since February after recovering from a long-term knee injury.

The 26-year-old spent six years at Newcastle before his form tempted Liverpool to spend a then British record fee of £35 million to bring him to Anfield.

His time on Merseyside was a disappointment and since joining West Ham for £15 million in 2013 he has managed just 24 Premier League starts due to injury.

However, the Gateshead-born targetman has been passed fit and could feature against the winless Magpies this evening.

Bilic could also hand debuts to transfer deadline day signing Nikica Jelavic, Michail Antonio and Victor Moses. Alex Song (ankle) is out, though.

Carl Jenkinson returns from suspension but goalkeeper Adrian will serve the final match of his three-game ban, meaning Darren Randolph will continue in goal.

Newcastle forward Aleksandar Mitrovic is also suspended whilst defender Paul Dummett (hamstring) is out as well.

The Hammers go into this clash in tenth place after four games having thrilled against Arsenal and Liverpool and been beaten by Bournemouth and Leicester City.

Meanwhile, the Magpies are one of three teams still without a win in the Premier League and will look to get their first league win under former Derby County boss McClaren at the expense of the inconsistent Hammers.