West Ham United have received a significant boost ahead of their crucial Premier League encounter with Nottingham Forest, as key midfielder Lucas Paqueta returned to training on Monday.
Fitness Race for Key Duo
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo remained cautious but hopeful regarding the availability of both Lucas Paqueta and defender Jean-Clair Todibo. The Brazilian international missed Saturday's dismal 3-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers with a back issue, while Todibo has been managing a groin problem.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Espirito Santo said: 'We have to assess both of them, JC and Lucas. They are trying hard to be involved after painful situations. We still have tomorrow (Tuesday) to see how they are and see if they can be involved in the squad.'
However, images released by the club from their Monday session showed Paqueta participating fully with his teammates, suggesting a likely return for the Tuesday night fixture at the London Stadium.
A Massive Relegation Six-Pointer
This match carries enormous weight for two struggling sides. West Ham sit 18th in the table, one place and four points behind 17th-placed Forest. The Hammers are reeling from their weekend loss to bottom club Wolves, while Forest arrive in east London on the back of four consecutive defeats.
Espirito Santo admitted he was baffled by his team's performance at Molineux, Wolves' first win of the season. 'I'm very honest with you, I still don't know,' he confessed. 'It was bad. We started bad. We made mistakes. It's difficult to explain.'
New Signings Offer Fresh Hope
Amid the injury concerns and poor form, there is some positive news for Hammers fans. The manager confirmed that two new signings, striker Pablo Felipe from Gil Vicente and Argentine forward Taty Castellanos from Lazio, are now at his disposal.
Espirito Santo expressed his gratitude for the club's work in the January transfer window, stating: 'Grateful because it was a need. I think we have done well in a transfer window that is very tricky to operate... We hope that we can have more because it's the right moment to try and impact the squad.'
He added that he believes the two new arrivals can bring something new to the team and help rebalance the squad for the challenges ahead. With so much at stake, the return of Paqueta and the introduction of new attacking options could be pivotal for West Ham's survival hopes.
