West Ham have been dealt a major blow with a new Lucas Paqueta setback but there’s been some brilliant news on Freddie Potts to take the edge off.
West Ham made it back-to-back wins with a 3-2 victory over Burnley at the London Stadium, but it looked to have come at a high price.
No two players have been more influential in West Ham’s turnaround over the last week than Lucas Paqueta and Freddie Potts.
Nuno Espirito Santo has finally found a midfield combination which works with players who complement one another.
Nuno called on Paqueta to play with the aura of a Brazilian number 10.
Paqueta and Potts give West Ham new balance
The 28-year-old has certainly responded with his performances, being a leading figure as his supreme talent starts to shine through again.
Paqueta has gone on record to say having a manager who speaks his native Portuguese has been a huge help to him.
The Brazilian magnifico was superb in the 3-1 win over Newcastle, being edged out for the man of the match award by the young defensive shield behind him, Potts.
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West Ham fans have once again been proved right when it comes to the Academy graduate.
Supporters have been urging a succession of managers to give Potts game time from the tail end of David Moyes’ time at the club through to Julen Lopetegui, Graham Potter and now Nuno.
Lucas Paqueta and Callum Wilson celebrate during West Ham United v Burnley - Premier League
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
It is the current Hammers boss who has finally trusted Potts’ ability when it matters most, though, starting him in crucial wins over the Magpies and Burnley.
The victories have breathed new life and hope into West Ham’s season.
But the win over Burnley looked to have been at a cost ahead of a brutal run of fixtures for the Hammers.
There has been a major Paqueta blow for Nuno but West Ham get brilliant news on Potts’ injury.
It was clear just minutes into the six-pointer with the Clarets that Paqueta was going to be booked.
And so it proved as he received a yellow card for a late challenge despite not actually touching the Burnley player.
Major Paqueta blow but West Ham get brilliant news on Potts
The booking means Paqueta now misses West Ham’s trip to Bournemouth after the international break after his fifth caution of the campaign.
He has been so influential of late that the ban represents a real blow to Nuno, especially after he had just settled on a well-balanced midfield that functions..
To make matters considerably worse, though, Potts also picked up what looked a very worrying hamstring injury too.
Potts was in the middle of another stellar performance when he went down clutching his leg and asking for treatment.
He won the most duels in the game with seven, had the joint-most clearances with six, the joint-most tackles won with three, the joint-most chances created with three, the most accurate crosses with two and was dribbled past the fewest-times with zero take-ons against him.
Nuno Espirito Santo embraces Freddie Potts after a man of the match display on his full West Ham debut
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Fans were understandably deeply concerned seeing Potts try to play on but eventually succumb to the blow and be replaced.
While Nuno will have to find a solution to cope with the loss of Paqueta for the trip to Bournemouth, young midfielder Potts should be available.
The son of Hammers first team coach Steve was seen all smiles heading into the changing room after the game and there was no sign of any limping or obvious discomfort.
After the game Nuno said he hoped Potts had only suffered a ‘dead leg’ impact injury.
“It is very painful now but, with ice, he will recover,” Nuno said in his press conference after the game.
Nuno’s Potts hopes confirmed as ace avoids serious injury
Hammers News has spoken to a top source inside West Ham for an update on Potts’ injury.
And there is great news with Nuno’s hopes being right.
Potts has indeed only sustained a small impact injury and will be back training this week ready to go against the Cherries after the international break.
“Freddie is going to be fine, it was just the angle he was caught at and the impact on the muscle which made it very difficult for him to carry on in the game,” the West Ham source told Hammers News.
“He will be fine for training in a few days and ready for the Bournemouth game.”
That eases the disruption to the team and means Nuno only has to find a solution to deal with the loss of Paqueta.
It could be that Tomas Soucek comes into the side in Paqueta’s place after scoring two vital goals from the bench against Newcastle and Burnley.