No sooner are West Ham fans feeling relieved that, unlike his predecessor, Nuno Espírito Santo has given youngsters Freddie Potts and Callum Marshall some much deserved time against Arsenal, than another report comes along to dampen the Irons’ fans new found optimism.

In the last day or so, a couple of reports have cropped up suggesting young defender Ollie Scarles might need to leave the club in January owning to lack of game time thanks to El Hadji-Malick Diouf’s storming form. Scarles was handed his Hammers Premier League debut by Potter in January last year, to instant plaudits from fans and observers.

Sadly the youngster didn’t really cement a place in Potter’s wingback system and has been short on match time since Malick Diouf’s arrival in the summer. But reports such as the article in todays’ caughtoffside.com make one very big omission:

“Nuno Espírito Santo tells West Ham defender he can leave”..

Runs their headline, suggesting “Nuno Espírito Santo is prepared to sanction Scarles’ exit since the manager has preferred using El Hadji Malick Diouf in the left-back position. Scarles is restricted mainly to reserve and cup minutes.”

I’d just suggest that all is not quite so clear cut....