Lucas Paqueta is a major doubt for Newcastle but West Ham may get big betting case boost

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Julen Lopetegui revealed West Ham have two injury doubts for the trip to Newcastle and Lucas Paqueta is one of them.

With Julen Lopetegui in the brink at West Ham, he needs as many of his top players available as possible at Newcastle United.

Especially as the Hammers go to St James’s Park without their top star Mohammed Kudus.

There is also utter confusion over the availability of West Ham star Edson Alvarez for Newcastle.

In what is a farcical situation, Lopetegui and West Ham think Alvarez is suspended.

But the Premier League say the Mexican is available to play because he received two yellow cards in his sending off against Forest and his cup red at Liverpool doesn’t count towards ‘totting up’ in the league.

In his pre-match press conference for one of two games which will reportedly decide his future, Lopetegui revealed two other Hammers stars are doubts.

He would not name them as he said he hoped they may be able to make it in time to face Eddie Howe’s in-form Magpies.

But Lucas Paqueta is one of those players, Hammers News understands.

However, it is believed Lopetegui was already considering benching the Brazilian in favour of Carlos Soler.

The Spanish midfielder has impressed in West Ham training over the international break.

But Paqueta has returned from Brazil duty with a niggle and may only be on the bench at best regardless.

Paqueta a major doubt for West Ham clash with Newcastle

On his day Paqueta is one of the best players in the Premier League let alone at West Ham.

Those days have become too few and far between, though.

West Ham’s not so magnifico Brazilian has been off colour throughout 2024.

That has been attributed to the spot-fixing case hanging over him.

Both the English and Brazilian FA have separate cases against Paqueta over the allegations, which the player has always vehemently denied.

The English FA’s case is expected to finally be heard by an independent three-person panel in March.

They will essentially decide whether West Ham’s £51m record signing is cleared or likely banned from football for the rest of his career.

But while Paqueta is a major doubt for Newcastle West Ham may get a big betting case boost.

The Hammers midfielder released a statement last month saying he felt he faced an unfair hearing due to inaccurate leaks to the press about the case.

Paqueta and his uncle, Bruno Tolentino, have both since been summoned to appear before the Sports Betting CPI – The Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry – in Brazil.

Paqueta has been appealing demands for him to attend in person and pleading for the inquiry to be delayed.

West Ham may get big Paqueta betting case boost

There was a small win when Paqueta was told he could appear via Zoom.

But the Hammers star and his advisors wanted the inquiry pushed back as they have serious concerns it could jeopardise his FA hearing here in the UK.

Paqueta’s lawyers filed an official appeal request to postpone his testimony on the grounds that it could harm his defence in his FA case.

The next hearing has been scheduled for next Tuesday, December 3rd, when West Ham play away at Leicester.

So it looked certain Paqueta would miss that game for the Hammers.

There’s some rare good news for West Ham and the 27-year-old, though.

According to Hammers insider Sean Whetstone, Paqueta may be allowed to give evidence remotely next week, meaning he might be available for West Ham’s crucial trip to the King Power.

“Lucas Paqueta’s evidence to the Commission of Inquiry (CPI) on the Manipulation of Games and Sports Betting could be conducted by video link,” Whetstone said.

“His lawyers successfully argued a postponement at the end of October until 3 December but West Ham are away to Leciester City that evening and Paqueta could deliver both demands if he is allowed to give evidence remotely.

“That assumes he gives evidence and his lawyers don’t argue for another postponement due to the ongoing FA charges levelled against him. His representatives argue the Brazilian hearing could harm his chances of a fair FA hearing as he bids to give his name.”