‘Mad Marko’ is now making a lot of sense and earns salute from Moyes

IT is ironic that David Moyes, whose manmanagement of big players is perceived as his greatest flaw, has got a tune out of Marko Arnautovic — or ‘Mad Marko’ as the West Ham striker is known.

The Austrian has now scored seven goals in his last seven league games and his strike yesterday, along with two assists, helped his side to an easy win and earned glowing praise from his manager.

Moyes saluted Arnautovic for embracing a more disciplined kind of football under his regime, but the Scot also seems to have tamed the maverick.

‘Marko likes a boast,’ said the Scot, clearly enjoying his time with The Hammers, which could now last beyond his initial contract until the end of the season.

‘He now knows if you want to run, you will play. Every week he is producing almost the highest sprinting stats in the league. We have freed him up, going from the wing to playing in the middle.

‘There are times he needs a strong hand, but his attitude has been excellent.’

Yesterday was Moyes’ 200th game in the Premier League. He now joins an exclusive club that has only three other members — Sir Alex Ferguson — in attendance yesterday — Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp.

West Ham grabbed a 25th-minute lead through Mark Noble before Joe Lolley equalised.

But it took Arnautovic only 11 seconds into the second half to restore the visitors’ lead with a superb goal. He flicked the ball over Tommy Smith’s head with his right foot and volleyed home with his left.

He then set up both of Manuel Lanzini’s goals to seal a convincing win.

After the match, he was asked about his two assists for Lanzini.

‘Manuel told me I do not give him passes,’ said Arnautovic, part humour, part serious.

‘Today he got two. Now I think he needs to be quiet until the next game.’