Zarate absence fuels rumour factory

Mauro Zarate and Cheik Kouyate have not travelled to Bournemouth this evening and that has started tongues wagging inside the club about the Argentine striker’s Hammers future.

ClaretandHugh understands that he reported in with an injury which ruled him out of consideration for the game on the south coast.

Kouyate has failed to recover properly from a knock he took a couple of weeks back and the manager has chosen not to risk him.

Zarate has been linked with a move to Europe for two or three weeks now and it may be just a coincidence of course!

Both he and Nikica Jelavic have been suggested winter targets from abroad although the former Rangers, Everton and Hul man is expected to be on the bench this evening.

Likely Irons team: Adrian, Tomkins, Reid, Collins, Cresswell; Noble, Obiang, Song, Payet, Antonio, Carroll.

Subs are likely to include Randolph, Jenkinson, Ogbonna, Jelavic, Oxford and Cullen