West Ham move wasn't a step up for Marko Arnautovic, insists Stoke boss Mark Hughes ahead of Potters reunion

  • Marko Arnautovic joined West Ham in the summer from Stoke for £24million
  • The former Stoke man returns to his former club in Saturday's clash 
  • Mark Hughes has claimed Arnautovic went sideways by joining the Hammers
  • The Stoke boss claimed he never had a problem with the Austria winger
  • Hughes admitted Arnautovic has improved since the arrival of David Moyes 

Stoke manager Mark Hughes believes Marko Arnautovic made a mistake with his 'sideways' move to West Ham.

Hughes believes the Austria winger should have set his sights on a bigger club and bided his time by staying in the Potteries with a manager who had learned to handle his unpredictable temperament.

Arnautovic is back at Stoke with the Hammers on Saturday for the first time since his £24million summer switch but Hughes is still disappointed at his move, which followed a transfer request.

Marko Arnautovic is gearing up for a return to his former club Stoke on Saturday

'People have looked at Marko for many seasons – he's been in the Premier League now for a long time,' said Hughes.


'Everybody has seen him and come up against him and I think he hoped he'd be going to the next level but that wasn't the case.

'That's why we argued 'why are you going sideways when we would encourage you to go higher if that's what you want to do?'

The Austria winger joined West Ham from the Potters in the summer in a deal worth £24million

The Austria winger joined West Ham from the Potters in the summer in a deal worth £24million

MARKO AT STOKE VS WEST HAM

Stoke

Appearances: 145

Goals: 26

Assists:  32 

West Ham 

Appearances: 15

Goals: 1

Assists: 2

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Arnautovic made a difficult start to his Hammers career when he was sent off for an elbow in just his second game and was criticised for his early performances.

But he scored the winning goal against Chelsea last weekend and Hughes believes his form has improved under new boss David Moyes.

'I didn't have a problem with Marko,' said Hughes. 'I thought at the time moving was the wrong decision for him because I know what he needs to be successful.

'He needs people with him and supporting him. It will be interesting to see how he fares but it looks like he's back on track.

'He's got a little bit of form because it looks as if he's been given a bit of trust and he sees it as a fresh start to his West Ham career.

'He's got a big presence, a big personality and he demands attention. He'll back his ability.

'He likes the attention and to feel people are with him. That's why he prospered here.'

Stoke boss Mark Hughes claimed Arnautovic went sideways by joining West Ham

Stoke boss Mark Hughes claimed Arnautovic went sideways by joining West Ham