David Moyes has shared a concerning update on West Ham duo Lucas Paqueta and Michail Antonio but is he playing mind games?
West Ham have been boosted of late by the return of key players after a torrid January.
Top scorer Jarrod Bowen returned earlier than expected from an ankle injury, Mohammed Kudus came back from AFCON early and Edson Alvarez declared himself fit again and ready for action.
West Ham then managed to sign Kalvin Phillips from Man City and Nayef Aguerd is on his way home from AFCON too.
Moyes confirmed that triple boost and spoke about his plans for Phillips ahead of the game against Bournemouth.
But the Scot also delivered some rather more worrying news.
Moyes’ concerning update on Paqueta and Antonio
There was a boost for the Hammers when talisman Lucas Paqueta was pictured back at Rush Green this week after a month out with injury. Paqueta was spotted at the training ground with his teammates in his distinctive silver Ferrari.
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He and Michail Antonio are West Ham’s only injured stars as things stand. Getting Paqueta back is key to maintaining the club’s top six hopes. But so too is Antonio given the impending departure of Said Benrahma and West Ham’s lack of strength in depth – which has been all too evident of late.
It seems West Ham fans should not get their hopes up of seeing Paqueta or Antonio back anytime soon, though.
Because Moyes says neither are anywhere close and suggested Paqueta’s injury may yet prove to be worse than first feared.
Boss none the wiser on comeback timescale for duo
“Paqueta has been away in Madrid, he’s back (at the training ground),” Moyes said in his pre-Bournemouth press conference, as reported on The Evening Standard.
“I can’t give a full update as I don’t know all the stuff but he’s been re-scanned again. That’s as much as I know. Possibly, yeah, possibly (the injury is more difficult to deal with than first thought). But he is a boy who can come back just like that and could be back immediately. I really don’t know how about him and how he is at the moment…
“Antonio is back doing straight-line running but not training with the team. He’s on the ball but just straight-line running but not with the team, he’s still with the medical team.”
Moyes playing mind games?
But is Moyes playing some mind games here?
We know the Scot likes to use the press to do just that when it comes to team selection and injury news.
And his comments contradict claims from Paqueta, his wife and a prominent West Ham insider who believe the Brazilian magnifico is nearing full fitness.
Similarly with Antonio, it has been claimed by The West Ham Way that Antonio may be in the squad for the Cherries clash despite Moyes’ comments.
“There is also hope that attacker Michail Antonio will be able to feature after almost two months out and Kalvin Phillips should make his debut at some stage,” the report states.
So could it be a case of smoke and mirrors from Moyes? We’ll find out when the teams are announced later on this evening.