Diafra Sakho has an outside chance of making it onto the Hammers bench against Bristol City although in the last few minutes we have been told it’s more likely he’ll feature at Liverpool next week!

Whewther it’s tomorrow or next weekend , the Hammers will have no hesitation in thrusting him into FA Cup action despite earlier threats from the Senegal Football Federation.

They had claimed after his back injury against West Brom that should he return to Premier League action before the end of the African Cup of Nations they would throw the Fifa rule book at the Irons.

However, they ,may find that difficult given that Leicester City’s Jeffrey Schlupp who missed joining the Ghana squad with a knee injury was fit to play against Stoke City last week.

Foxes Boss Nigel Pearson revealed that he had acted entirely within the rules by telling Ghana the player would be out for between 10-14 days just as the Hammers did Senegal over Sakho explaining it could take up to four or six weeks.

ClaretandHugh was told exclusively this morning: “Diafra has made a quicker than expected recovery and may feature on the bench at Ashton Gate – we will see. However, it could be we will give him another seven days.

“There’s less than a 50 per cent chance of Senegal taking action given the Leicester City precedent and should the player be fit, we’ll take our chances!”