Says Glenn Roeder:
"Ges Steinbergs and Paul Aldridge are going out to Italy next week to see Paolo because we are very interested in how his rehab is coming on.
"I know it is ahead of schedule, which is good news for him and everyone because we need him - and everybody else - fit."
Glenn insists the mood is good despite West Ham going in to their thirteenth attempt this season at winning at home.
"The players are remaining strong; they know that over these past six or seven weeks they have played well enough to have won games," he says.
"What they are is disappointed that they haven't, and they are keeping hold of that disappointment and remaining positive - which they must do, because we know we must carry on playing well enough to win games.
"We just hope we get the breaks to do that and we take the chances that we create."
FA Cup action has stirred fond memories for Glenn, who was a losing semi-finalist with Leyton Orient against Arsenal in 1978.
But his real moment of glory came in 1982 when he played in the final for QPR against Tottenham; the first game was a 0-0 draw but he was suspended for the replay.
"Although it wasn't the greatest of finals," he recalls, "if you play it is a great day - and I always say I never lost an FA Cup final, but I never won one either!
"Terry Venables did well to get me a medal; he had to fight for that because only players who had played in the replay were supposed to get them."
As far as transfers are concerned, he feels that progress is being made and he adds:
"I think we will get the two we have targeted, but so many people are involved nowadays you keep running into small problems.
"It might be three or four days but I do feel we will get one next week - and hopefully one the week after."
As for the notion that Spurs striker Les Ferdinand is keen to come to Upton Park, Glenn jokes:
"He has said that, has he? Perhaps I had better get his phone number because I don't have it!
"Apparently he has been targeted by quite a few clubs."