West Ham United without Lucas Paqueta for Manchester United clash
West Ham United are still without Lucas Paqueta for their Premier League clash against Manchester United on Sunday, David Moyes has confirmed.
Paqueta was spotted in first-team training ahead of the Hammers’ game against Silkeborg, but the trip to Old Trafford has come too soon for the Brazilian.
Jarrod Bowen is back on grass ahead of the game, but the West Ham boss wouldn’t confirm the England international’s availability.
“There’s a bundle, a lot of the clubs are the same. Hopefully, we’ve come through last night, not too bad,” said the West Ham boss (quoted by Football London, 28 October).
“Jarrod has done a little bit of running on the grass so we will see. Paqueta will be unavailable until next week.
Turning point
The fixture at Old Trafford could be a real turning point for Moyes’ men with the Hammers still very much stuck in and around a large chunk of mid-table sides. A win against the Red Devils will take the Irons within three points of Erik ten Hag’s men, who currently sit in sixth place.
However, a loss will drag West Ham back down into the relegation equation, with ten teams currently separated by just five points at the bottom of the Premier League. An away win against one of the division’s bigger sides has alluded the Hammers so far this season and there’s no better place to start than Old Trafford.
The trip to Manchester is followed by Crystal Palace and Leicester in the Premier League before the World Cup break. if the Irons can remain in and around the top half for when the top flight returns to action after Christmas, then everyone around the club will be happy considering their poor start to the campaign.