West Ham learn Pablo fate ahead of Brentford FA Cup clash
Pablo is a doubt for West Ham’s FA Cup fifth-round clash with Brentford on Monday evening.
West Ham are fighting for the last place in the quarter-finals of the competition with the side that sit 11 places above them in the Premier League.
The London Stadium contest on 9 March will give the Hammers a nice distraction from their relegation woes in the top-flight.
However, the Brazilian is not likely to be in the squad for the tie with Keith Andrews’ side, and could be on the sidelines for even longer.
What is the latest update on Pablo?
Pablo was signed in January, but he has missed the last six matches with a calf injury suffered in the build-up to the draw with Manchester United on 10 February.
Sean Whetstone who runs the West Ham Football account on X claimed that the 22-year-old is back in training but faces a battle to get match fit.
He stated that he is unlikely to be back for the clash with the Bees or even the Manchester City game in the league at the weekend.
What has Nuno said on Pablo’s injury return?
Nuno Espirito Santo spoke about Pablo’s comeback in his pre-match press conference on Friday, and it was not an encouraging update.
He said: “We’re still assessing him day by day. He’s improving a lot, so we’ll keep assessing him, and see how it goes.”
The Hammers need the former Gil Vicente striker to be back as soon as possible, as he provides relentless energy and pressing in the front line.
He is yet to score for the Irons since joining in the winter window, in his 330 minutes of action in all competitions, but his presence on the pitch is a positive one.
Having as many forwards fit as possible will be crucial for the East London outfit if they are to survive and keep their status as a top-flight club.
The update is not the best news for the E20 outfit, but it could be worse, and the suggestion is that he is on the comeback trail shortly.
That could be the boost that the Hammers need as they try to beat out the likes of Tottenham and Nottingham Forest in the final few months of the campaign and avoid dropping down to the Championship.
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