Players now regularly take to social media with their own cryptic – or sometimes not so- comments on their fitness, match preparation and appetite for training: West Ham have several who are avid instagram users, Crysencio Summerville amongst them. The Dutch winger frequently teases his many followers with fitness updates such as his recent post with training images, suggesting he’s good to go for the quarter final.

Dinos Mavropanos however, has taken the award for the most cryptic. After being forced off from Greece’s first game with a head injury and sitting out their second as a ‘precautionary measure’, the giant Greek who was feared to be in a concussion- protocol has posted a single word update on his fitness – which is more notable for what it doesn’t say.

the Big Greek’s insta post includes just one word:  “Back”

The lack of associated training images, ‘raring to go’ or ‘looking forward to tomorrow’ comments, along with the downbeat, sober manner of his photo is either a masterpiece of misdirection or more likely a resignation that Konstantinos Mavropanos isn’t getting his kit on tomorrow.

Which means the West Ham community will be crossing their fingers and...