Ravel Morrison is focused entirely on creating an impact at West Ham this season despite being caught at the centre of an extraordinary rift between the manager and the board.

Co-owner David Sullivan has claimed that the board want the player to stay at the club but believes Sam Allardyce has made it clear he’s not in his plans.

Morrison, is currently recovering from minor surgery on a groin problem having been involved in the one pre-season game for which he was available against Stevenage.

And the manager agreed with his advisers that given Rav isn’t the best traveller that he could miss the New Zealand tour in favour of being fit for the start of the season.

That has all encouraged the Morrison camp to believe that any bad blood that may have existed last season is well and truly behind everybody and that the midfielder can kick on.

And ClaretandHugh has been told that the player is entirely focused on doing everything he can to win a new deal at Upton Park.

Suggestions that Moscow, Milan or Lisbon  could become destinations are wide of the mark given Rav’s attitude towards foreign parts.

And although we have discovered there were sets of talks with Newcastle before Christmas and some marginal interest from Liverpool, the player’s attitude remains the same – he wants to stay at Upton Park and earn a new deal.

We were told by sources close to the player: “Outside of the top six there are no bigger club than West Ham.

“They are on their way to a brilliant new stadium and are a club on the up. Ravel wants to be a part of things.

“Given that the manager’s has used him in the one game for which he has been available pre-season and Sam was ready to let the injury be seen to, we are very hopeful, and believe, that all is now well.”

“Ravel just wants to get on with it now and so long as he gets a crack of the whip he will prove himself to be the player we all know he can be.”