There was more effort forthcoming from Marko Arnautovic - in the second half at least - during West Ham's defeat to Chelsea on Monday evening than there has been in recent months.
The temperamental Austrian international hasn't scored since early January. That same month he pushed hard for a move away from West Ham with Chinese side Shanghai SIPG the reported destination.
Speaking on BBC 5 Live on Monday evening, Arnautovic's former Stoke teammate Robert Huth provided some insight about what it can be like to play with the 29-year-old.
"He can be difficult," said Huth.
Make no mistake about that.
One day he'd come in and be as happy as anything and then for one game you'd look at him and go 'Any chance of doing anything? Could you run just around?'
At Stoke we had a good group that took care of that. We could put an arm around him and we sort of got the best out of him. [Sometimes] you literally couldn't motivate him.
You could be shouting at him, you could be cuddling him and telling him how great he is and he'd just decide that today is not the day.
"I'm sure if you speak to some of the Stoke supporters they would say that he was absolutely brilliant for three years," added Huth.
"Yes, he absolutely was, but he has games where you could rip your hair out and you'd go, 'Come on we need more from you'. Once he makes his mind up like that, it's difficult to get him motivated.
"Is it enough to upset the team? It shouldn't. If he doesn't want to be there, then simply don't play him. I'm surprised that he's playing him, personally. I know he's got the talent but he doesn't want to be there, then do one."
Robert Huth discusses his 'difficult' former team-mate Marko Arnautović 👀💥
'He has games where you could rip your hair out' - @robert_huth
#bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/pjpcEsEH4a— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) April 9, 2019
