Marlon just missed out on being the division's top scorer last season, but is looking to go one better this time around.
He is hoping to build on his two goals against Southend on Tuesday by opening his league account at the weekend, and Peter says:
"That is what you live or die by as a striker; you get the accolades if you are scoring and the criticism if you are not.
"People always expect, but he is capable of anything - and I don't think at times he realises what he is capable of.
"He didn't score against Crewe but I thought he had a better game then; I thought his all-round game and work ethic was better then than against Southend but he scored two goals against them - so who is to say what we know!
"But it is a weight off his shoulders to get the goals."
That is 'goals' plural, of course, with his second against the Shrimpers coming when he broke through to nutmeg the keeper rather than pass to Chris Cohen to his left.
And Peter jokes:
"It wouldn't only have been Chrissy Cohen that would have strangled him if he hadn't scored!
"Sometimes others are in better positions so you roll in for them - you are judged by what you create as well as score."
Looking at the double-header weekend, Peter adds:
"Every game is massive for West Ham; we are single-minded and will look to take care of the first one and come Monday evening we hope we will have six points in the bag.
"Having that wee break as well, that would be the ideal scenario, because you don't want 14 days to stew on a bad result.
"We will be focused and hopefully we have no more injury problems - we have got two very important games and we need everyone fit.
"I remember at Easter last season we had two games on the bounce and we got a couple of injuries that couldn't play on the Monday."
He hopes that scenario is not repeated this time around and adds:
"You couldn't have written the script for the number of injuries we have had to defenders at the one time with Anton, Hayden, Andy, and Christian."
The search for a defender would have gone on anyway, and Peter says:
"We are always looking to try and improve the squad all the time, not just in defence, but all over the park - that is the nature of the game."
One defender who is definitely fully fit is Rufus Brevett, who was made captain on Tuesday, and Peter says:
"He had a difficult year last year but has been first class and is another one who leads by example and he thoroughly deserved to have that honour.
"He will be able to say he has been captain of West Ham United - and that is a fantastic accolade when you think of the people have gone before."