Pelle avoids giving Cup match answer on Marko

It’s easy to get the impression from the manager’s comments on Marko Arnautovic’s involvement or otherwise in Saturday’s Cup match that this will be another game the Austrian sits out.

I hope I’m wrong but Manuel Pellegrini’s comments when asked the question were entirely dissimilar to those in previous weeks when asked about the likes of Nasri, Carroll, Noble.

And even today  he declared when asked about Ryan Fredericks he would talk to the player before deciding whether to include him in the squad. That was a lot clearer than his Arnie answer.

Instead chose to weave his way around the question choosing his words very carefully.

His response was: “We will see the names of the players who will be involved in the squad list on Friday. Marko is working with us without any problem.

He then chose to add: “I don’t know what will happen in the future as it is impossible for me to know the future.”

It’s difficult to feel confident that he will return based on those responses and it’s my bet that if we are to see him in a claret and blue shirt again it’s more likely to be against Liverpool on February 4 once the transfer window has closed.

Yes, the Chinese window is open until the end of Feb but if Arnie is to make his move it seems far more likely it will be before the end of January and will depend on the Hammers finding a replacement until the end of the season.

Words from the manager in press conferences can be important but on this occasion it’s those he didn’t say which may be more pertinent.

It really is quite easy to say: “Marko will be in the squad” and I’m sure he would have loved to had things been hunky dory.

That he didn’t seems to point strongly towards the fact that The China Syndrome still has to be settled!