Disaster has struck for West Ham as distraught star Lucas Paqueta is forced off injured 10 minutes into his return.
West Ham welcomed Brazilian magnifico Lucas Paqueta back into the side after a calf injury when they hosted Bristol City in the FA Cup.
Paqueta picked up the injury in the warm-up before the win at Arsenal and was forced off 20 minutes into that win.
The Hammers talisman then missed the draw with Brighton and his absence was sorely felt.
He returned to the side for the visit of Championship Bristol City, though, much to the relief of West Ham fans.
But it seems it may not have been worth the risk.
Because there’s disaster for West Ham as distraught star Paqueta is forced off injured 10 minutes into his return.
With Mohammed Kudus at AFCON – likely until mid-February – and Michail Antonio suffering an injury setback which will keep him out until February, the last thing Moyes needed was another injury to a key player.
But that’s what he got just 10 minutes into the game against Bristol City.
Paqueta was influential from the off and produced a wonderful pass to put Jarrod Bowen in to make it 1-0 to the Hammers at the London Stadium.
Moments later, though, he pulled up suddenly and went down on the side of the pitch with his head in his hands.
There was a collective groan and hush around the London Stadium as Paqueta sat disconsolate.
Feeling his knee and calf area, Paqueta looked visibly distraught as he gingerly made his way around the pitch to be substituted after treatment.
The only positive for West Ham is that there is now a two-week break in which Paqueta can rest and recover.
His injury will no doubt need the usual checks and scans to ensure it is nothing more serious, though.
So we wait with bated breath for the outcome of that.
The injury may see David Moyes and Tim Steidten up the pace on the search for reinforcements this month too.
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