West Ham United manager David Moyes has revealed that Lucas Paqueta is in contention to play against Crystal Palace on Sunday after returning to training.
The 25-year-old midfielder has missed the last five matches across all competitions since he picked up a shoulder injury in the 1-1 draw away against Southampton last month.
Moyes stated after the draw at St Mary's that Paqueta's injury was "serious", with the Brazil international emerging as a doubt for the 2022 World Cup.
However, the Scottish boss has confirmed that Paqueta has returned to training and is set to be included in the matchday squad for Sunday's fixture with Palace at the London Stadium.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Moyes said: "Lucas Paqueta has been training. He's probably ready to be included in the squad.
"Whether he's ready to play or not I don't know, but I certainly think he could be involved."
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Moyes added: "We're beginning to get some injured players back. Nayef Aguerd has played a couple of games and got 90 minutes last night as well.
"As everybody knows he was out for three months or so and we're closer to getting him back."
Hammers winger Maxwel Cornet remains sidelined with a calf injury, while there was no mention of goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski during Moyes's press conference, with the 37-year-old believed to be a doubt for Sunday's game.
Fabianski was withdrawn at half time in the 1-0 defeat at Manchester United last weekend after landing awkwardly and jarring his knee when rushing off his line to make a headed clearance.
The Polish stopper missed the 3-0 Europa Conference League win against FCSB on Thursday – but was not expected to play anyway with Alphonse Areola preferred between the sticks in Europe – and he is set to be assessed ahead of kickoff this weekend.
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A youthful Hammers side secured a comfortable win in Romania to complete Group B with a perfect record, becoming the first team in the competition's brief two-year history to win all six group games.
Moyes believes that his squad have benefited from the midweek rotation, with a number of senior stars fresh and ready to return to the side on Sunday.
"We've given the players a bit of a breather and we hope it bodes well for the next game," Moyes added. "A lot of them didn't need to travel with us, but they earned it as they had to perform in games earlier in the season.
"They didn't all start them but quite often they were coming off the bench to get results to win the group. Probably the most pleasing thing was that we ended up last night being able to give more youngsters a game."
West Ham, who currently sit 13th in the Premier League table and two points behind Palace in 10th place, will be looking to claim their fourth successive home victory in the top flight when they face the Eagles, who drew 2-2 with the Hammers at the London Stadium last season.
Oliver Thomas
