Pelle unworried by Quina return

Former young Hammer Domingos  Quina’s departure to Watford on deadline day was a shock only in as much as he had been hunted by Europe’s top teams.

The Irons had been trying to do a deal for several months which would have kept him to keep him at the club but the young Portuguese attacking midfielder was desperate for first team football and had received little or no chance at the Hammers.

As a result, whilst other clubs dragged their feet, the Hornets stepped in at the last minute and took him to Vicarage Road for around £1million.

He has since played three PL games and will no doubt be ready to prove a point or two at the London Stadium on Saturday should he get the chance.

But Manuel Pellegrini had no involvement in any of that and was unable to use him when he arrived at the club as the teenager was away on international duty.

He told reporters: ” I didn’t sell him in the summer. I didn’t know about him because when I arrived here he was playing in Portugal with his young national squad.

After that he couldn’t play with us in pre-season and I heard the news that he was sold. But we have other players. I’m happy for him that he is playing well at Watford, but he was never considered in our squad.

Maybe ( he will have a point to prove) but I don’t think he will have special motivation. He went to Watford because it was good for him and good for the team.”