West Ham United: Gianluca Scammaca being restricted without injured teammate
Gianluca Scamacca is feeling restricted at West Ham United without Lucas Paqueta in the same team, according to The Athletic.
The 25-year-old Brazilian has missed the past four games through injury which has left Scamacca without much service up front as Flynn Downes played in the number 10 role away at Manchester United.
The Italian international was brought off early in the second half as he teetered on the brink of a second yellow card but he did not get any service in front of goal at Old Trafford.
Thilo Kehrer played the most passes to Scamacca against the Red Devils with three directed towards the tall number nine while Paqueta made six passes against Fulham and four against Wolves, a team-high on both occasions.
During the Brazilian’s absence, the 23-year-old has not had more than 30 touches in any Premier League game and has not managed more than two shots in any game either.
Vital
Paqueta has only been at the club this season but he is already verging on the most important player at the London Stadium and he certainly is for Scamacca.
The Italian is the club’s top scorer in all competitions with six goals in all competitions, four of which have come in the Europa Conference League.
That prowess in front of goal has been massively helped by Paqueta’s presence behind him in the number 10 role which has been so hard to fill properly since Jesse Lingard’s loan ended in 2020-21.
Pablo Fornals, Manuel Lanzini and Said Benrahma have all done alright in bursts but there has not been the consistency of the 25-year-old that David Moyes has been craving.
He could be back in time to face Crystal Palace on Sunday (6 November) which would be a huge boost to West Ham as they try to keep their momentum going upward in the Premier League.