Alan Shearer names West Ham United star in Premier League Team of the Week
Alan Shearer singled out Lucas Paqueta as a star performer for West Ham during the win against Fulham and named him in his Premier League team of the week.
West Ham recorded consecutive wins for the first time this season on Sunday, with David Moyes’ side sealing a 3-1 victory over London rivals Fulham.
Jarrod Bowen, Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio all etched their name onto the scoresheet, but it was Paqueta who received all the praise for his outstanding performance in midfield.
Paqueta controlled the tempo from midfield and even registered an assist with a well-timed pass to Scamacca. As a result, Shearer selected the 25-year-old in the Premier League team of the week.
Alongside the selection, Shearer wrote: “He was at the heart of everything good that West Ham United did, and set up their second goal.”
Settling in
West Ham took a risk by spending big on Paqueta in the summer, with the playmaker moving to east London for a hefty £51.3million [The Guardian].
At first, Paqueta looked spooked by the energy and intensity of the Premier League, but his technical ability was undeniable and he’s starting to adapt to English football.
Moyes did well to be patient with the club’s new record signing, and his loyalty to Paqueta is starting to pay off.
Fellow new arrival Scamacca is starting to form a budding relationship with the Brazilian, and West Ham’s poor start to the season has quickly become a thing of the past.
With a nailed-on spot in Moyes’ starting lineup, Paqueta can now continue to grow in form and confidence and become a focal point of creativity in this Hammer side.
There are 10 games to go for West Ham between the Fulham victory and the start of the World Cup – including huge matches against both Liverpool and Manchester United. Paqueta will be keen to continue his superb form and head to Qatar at the top of his game.