Manuel Pellegrini has called on Marko Arnautovic to forget about off-the-pitch distractions and be a difference maker once more for West Ham next season.
The Austrian scored his first goals for the Hammers since being linked with a move to China in January as West Ham downed Southampton 3-0 in their final home game of the season.
Arnautovic - the club's top goalscorer last season - had not found the back of the net since a January 5 FA Cup tie against Birmingham, and saw a move to the Chinese Super League collapse late in the winter transfer window.
An assist at Tottenham last weekend hinted at an upturn in form, and here against Southampton he pounced on two mistakes at the back to take his League tally for the season to nine.
Despite the expectation that the forward would still leave the club this summer, Pellegrini is confident that should Arnautovic focus solely on his football, he can make the difference for West Ham again next term.
"With this team, with Marko, a complete season that is quiet, calm and just playing football I think it is a player who makes a difference," Pellegrini said.
"Last season, for different reasons, he started bad but after that he demonstrated what he can do.
"This season, exactly the same, when he was mentally involved he played the same and made the difference and I hope that next season, he will be involved in doing a complete season.
"I am sure this season for him will have been a good lesson, he learned some things and I am absolutely convinced next season we will see a great Marko."
Having kept consecutive clean sheets for the first time this season, West Ham head to Watford next Sunday looking to end their campaign with three straight wins after beginning the term with four defeats in a row.
