The press sent some of their big hitters to West Ham’s pre-Newcastle press conference and got a surprise from Graham Potter.
West Ham are gearing up to face Newcastle in the Premier League on Monday night.
Eddie Howe’s side visit the London Stadium amid something of a mini crisis with a host of top Newcastle stars out.
West Ham go into the game looking to make it three wins in a row.
Under pressure Newcastle need the points in their push for Europe.
The Toon also have the big distraction of the Carabao Cup final looming six days after the game.
The Premier League in their infinite wisdom – as they did for the reverse fixture – have made the clash a Monday night fixture.
However, that has given West Ham the chance to work on the training ground with new boss Graham Potter.
Hammers star Paqueta in the headlines ahead of Newcastle
Brazilian star Lucas Paqueta was seen back in training at Rush Green this week after a spell out injured.
As well as Newcastle’s mini crisis, Paqueta has been making all the headlines ahead of the match against the Geordies.
Newcastle are actually a club Paqueta may have joined. Howe has admitted he wanted Bruno Guimaraes’ best friend before he joined the Hammers.
But Howe said previously the deal was ‘beyond Newcastle financially’ at the time.
Although Paqueta was back in training this week, it was not known whether he would be ready to face Newcastle straight away.
Especially as the 27-year-old was hit with the news his trial for spot-fixing is due to start imminently.
The trial will last three weeks and the FA are pushing hard to have Paqueta banned for life.
The playmaker was left out of the Brazil squad last night while his compatriots at Newcastle – Guimaraes and Joelinton – are both selected.
Paqueta’s head must, understandably, be all over the place.
Potter’s shock update on Paqueta and Bowen before Newcastle
Especially as Paqueta has had to bring in a legal big gun as part of his preparations this week.
But now Potter has dropped a shock update on West Ham stars Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen before the Newcastle clash.
With all the news surrounding Paqueta, the media sent some of their top reporters along to Rush Green for Potter’s press conference, which you can watch in full further down this article.
The likes of Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth were putting the questions to the Hammers boss.
But he may have shocked many with what he said about Paqueta and West Ham skipper Bowen.
Potter says that not only is Paqueta fit, available and ready to face Newcastle, he has showed no signs of being worried or stressed by his up-coming trial.
Paqueta back available with no sign of worry or stress says boss
“No, he’s fine,” Potter said when asked by Sheth if he had reservations about selecting Paqueta for Newcastle given his impending trial.
“He’s been disappointed because he’s missed a couple of games with his injury. But he’s worked really hard to get back on the pitch. He’s done that well.
“He has trained well this week and I’ve found him absolutely no problem whatsoever since we’ve been here. He’s always given his best in training and games.
“The other stuff is out of my hands and out of my control. But in terms of how he is every day, he’s been really, really good.
“No I haven’t (detected there are any problems for Paqueta mentally as a result of his trial). He’s been with the group and given his everything…
“Now he’s back available so that’s good news for us.”
Perhaps arguably even more surprising were Potter’s comments on Bowen, though.
Potter’s surprising Bowen assessment
When the manager first took over from Julen Lopetegui, Bowen was out injured with a fractured foot.
He has played in West Ham’s last four games, though, scoring in three of them – even if one was ridiculously taken away against Leicester.
Bowen has been one of West Ham’s best and most consistent players since his arrival in January 2020, let alone this season.
Yet brutally honest Potter suggests he hasn’t been at his brilliant best yet.
And the Hammers boss thinks that while Bowen is contributing to the team, he is actually capable of doing even more.
“Jarrod has been fantastic,” Potter added.
“But he’s a human being as well. And I think when you have a number of weeks off, it’s hard to expect that you’re going to be in absolute top form from the first or second game.
“So I think for him, he’s contributed to the team in a really, really good way but I think there’s still room for him as well to improve.
“That’s an exciting for us and for him because he’s still been a huge influence on the team and to have him on the pitch for us is massive…
“I think he’ll get better and better as the more rhythm, more games, more training. But we’ve been delighted with him.”
Newcastle be warned.
If Bowen can get even better then the Magpies might be in big trouble.
Especially after Potter subtly laid the gauntlet down to his star player ahead of the match.
With Paqueta available, it gives Potter a selection dilemma for Newcastle.
Does he change a winning team and likely the shape and formation too?
Or does he introduce Paqueta as a substitute. The latter seems more likely.
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