West Ham United duo Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta in contention for Boxing Day clash against Arsenal
West Ham United are hopeful that Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta will both be in contention for the Boxing Day clash against Arsenal, according to the Evening Standard.
The pair will be awarded ten days off following their World Cup exploits in Qatar and are expected to return to first-team training midway through next week should they be free of injuries.
Rice started all five of England’s World Cup matches, including the quarter-final defeat to France, while the Hammers’ Brazilian midfielder was part of a starting XI that was upset by Croatia in Qatar.
The Hammers restart their Premier League campaign with a trip to The Emirates before hosting Brentford before the new year (30 December), as they look to propel themselves away from the relegation zone.
The report said: “Rice, along with Brazil star Lucas Paqueta, will re-join David Moyes’ squad next week in the run-up to Christmas and, provided the pair return with a clean bill of health, the club are hopeful of having both in contention to face Premier League leaders Arsenal on Boxing Day.”
Promising news
Moyes will be keeping his fingers crossed that both Rice and Paqueta return to first-team training without any minor niggles, as they start their festive period with a trip to Arsenal on Boxing Day.
With Gunners forward Gabriel Jesus undergoing knee surgery [Sky Sports], West Ham United will see this as a massive opportunity to instil some much-needed confidence in east London.
The recent performances of Paqueta would have impressed Moyes, in particular, with the midfield maestro playing a more central, disciplined role for Tite’s Brazil throughout their World Cup campaign.
The Scot will certainly consider switching the tactical role of the 25-year-old – who has failed to live up to his price tag since moving from Lyon in the summer – in a bid to change his form as well as misfiring forward Gianluca Scamacca.
If Rice were to pick up a niggle in the coming weeks, it could prove a hammer blow for the 59-year-old, who is already under increased scrutiny following the team’s poor start to the season.