![Lucas Paqueta is set to face Leicester with West Ham United [Credit: Imago]](http://media.assettype.com/westhamzone%2Fimport%2Fstatic%2Fuploads%2F7%2F2024%2F12%2Flucas-paqueta-west-ham-leicester-city.png?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
Lucas Paqueta availability update ahead of Leicester v West Ham United
West Ham will have Lucas Paqueta available to face Leicester City on Wednesday after he wasn't summoned to a Brazilian parliament inquiry, Dom Smith has reported.
The Evening Standard journalist posted on X (2 December) that Paqueta will not be summoned to the Brazilian parliament, either in person or via video link, to give evidence in their sports betting inquiry.
Paqueta is facing a potentially lengthy FA ban for four yellow cards he picked up last season, and had already been summoned to appear at a previous hearing on sports betting in his home country [GE Globo, 10 October].
Lucas Paqueta update gives West Ham full complement v Leicester
After watching his first-half performance against Arsenal last time out, many a Hammers fan will be wondering whether Paqueta being available to face Leicester is indeed a boost.
However, Julen Lopetegui will likely see the option of selecting the Brazilian – still capable of producing world-class moments on his day – as a positive as his side looks to bounce back from their 5-2 defeat.
Mohammed Kudus' return from a five-match ban will also be welcome for the Irons boss, whose credit in the bank after a 2-0 win at Newcastle evaporated inside the opening half-hour against Arsenal.
The Hammers aren't likely to learn the outcome of Paqueta's FA betting charges until well into 2025 [Sun on Sunday, 6 October], and for the time being, Lopetegui will be keen to get every ounce of quality out of the Brazilian.
Paqueta's future in claret and blue – and potentially as a professional footballer full stop – remains up in the air, but with Lopetegui's full focus being on Tuesday, he'll be glad to have his number 10 in tow.