Diafra Sakho is on the missing list again

Diafra Sakho has not made the away trip to Stoke. One West Ham supporter claimed he was nowhere to be seen at the hotel and official club photos of the dressing show he is the notable exception from named shirts hanging up.

A club source confirmed in the last few minutes he has not made the trip saying: “He is injured, unfortunately!”

Despite Kouyate, Reid and Masuaku all being listed as doubtful their shirts are hanging up in the away dressing room even though a couple of them may be on the bench today as a precaution.

With no Andy Carroll or Diafra Sakho it will be left to Jonathan Calleri to ply his trade up front with Ashley Fletcher available on the bench.

Slaven Bilic has played down previous reports of a bust-up with Sakho but his absence from travelling with the team raises more questions again about what is going on and why a reported ‘knock’ has prevented him from travelling and sitting on the bench like others.

Just after the announcement of the team Sakho’s knock has now turned into a back injury but many supporters are not buying that reason.