West Ham United playmaker Lucas Paqueta is on track to be available for Monday’s Premier League battle with Newcastle United at the London Stadium.
The Brazilian has returned to training following an ankle injury, but the threat of a lengthy ban is looming as his hearing into alleged betting breaches gets underway later this month.
The FA are reportedly seeking a lifetime suspension for Paqueta, although head coach Graham Potter has insisted that the former Lyon man is still in the right frame of mind to play.
Paqueta could be one of two returning players for the Irons alongside Vladimir Coufal (hamstring), but Crysencio Summerville (thigh), Niclas Fullkrug (hamstring) and Michail Antonio (leg) are still sidelined.
However, following back-to-back wins over Arsenal and Leicester City, Potter may not see the need to throw Paqueta back into the first XI straight away, especially with the hosts likely to have their backs against the wall for a prolonged period.
As a result, Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus could continue as the front two, while Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse and Tomas Soucek form the midfield barrier in a 3-5-2 shape.
A fit-again Coufal will certainly lose out to Aaron Wan-Bissaka for the right wing-back slot as well, while the emerging Oliver Scarles should have also done enough to keep Emerson Palmieri at bay.
The wily Aaron Cresswell was one of the stars of the West Ham show against Leicester, and the 35-year-old will surely reprise his defensive role with Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo in front of Alphonse Areola.
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Areola; Cresswell, Kilman, Todibo; Wan-Bissaka, Soucek, Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Scarles; Kudus, Bowen
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