Leroy: ‘African Cup decision was Diafra’s alone’

I am absolutely convinced that had Diafra Sakho considered himself fit enough to join the Senegal squad for the African Nations Cup tournament he would have done so.

And let’s get this straight. At the end of it all this will have been the player’s decision not West Ham’s. Of course they wouldn’t have wanted him to go but Diafra undoubtedly will have had the final say.

No doubt the Hammers are very happy that they have him available and perhaps they attempted to persuade him to stay but I repeat, it was down to him.

For him to be getting stick from some daft fans for not being with the international squad is unfair and wrong.

He looks to me like a lad who leads his life the way he plays his football – with great honesty – and this was always going to be a no win situation for him.

He was obviously injured and I have no doubt the Hammers wanted to protect their prize asset as much as possible after what happened the last time he was on international duty.

But they couldn’t have stopped him if he was fit and wanted to go so o it’s pretty clear to me he wasn’t and let that be an end to it.