West Ham United have been dealt a new injury blow with Lucas Paqueta suffering an ankle issue in training, according to The Standard.
The Standard reported via their website on 18 February that Paqueta was forced to withdraw early from Tuesday’s training session at Rush Green, and the Brazilian “appeared devastated” at this new blow.
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Paqueta only made his return from a previous minor knock in the Irons’ 1-0 defeat to Brentford on Saturday, and another spell on the sidelines for the 27-year-old could be a huge blow for Graham Potter.
The Brazil midfielder has been forced to deputise as an impromptu striker in several of Potter’s first games in charge at the London Stadium, and another injury could leave the Irons down to the barebones.
Lucas Paqueta injury a brutal blow for West Ham
West Ham team-mates, coaches, executives and fans alike will all have their fingers crossed that Paqueta’s latest knock is nothing serious, given how short of numbers the Irons already are in attack.
Potter already has to contend with two would-be first choice attackers on the sidelines at present, with Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville both out until well after next month’s international break.
Furthermore, West Ham are without Michail Antonio for the forseeable future following the Jamaican international’s car accident in 2024, leaving Potter scraping the barrel when it comes to centre-forwards.
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The arrival of Evan Ferguson on loan from Brighton does provide Potter with an alternative to Danny Ings up front, but it’s Paqueta who has been used from the start – to mixed effect – in recent matches.
James Ward-Prowse returning from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest does provide West Ham with more bulk in midfield should Paqueta be out long-term, but the Brazilian will still leave a significant hole.
Alongside Mohammed Kudus and skipper Jarrod Bowen, Paqueta is seen as one of the jewels in West Ham’s crown, and given they sit a lowly 16th in the Premier League table, his absence will be felt.
It remains to be seen how long Paqueta spends on the sidelines – and how the Irons adapt to life without him – but with Potter’s side already in poor form, that task just got a lot more difficult.
