There is no doubting that when Alvaro Arbeloa signed for West Ham in the summer and took his first look at the fixture list it would have been December 10 that stood out a mile – a trip back to Liverpool with his new team.
But with a swollen and badly bruised leg keeping him in London there will no chance to play at Anfield.
Things have not turned out the way he hoped. Nothing this season has turned out the way anyone at West Ham hoped.
He has only been at the club three months and only started three games but he doesn't need to be told how serious the situation is.