West Ham United are facing another injury setback ahead of their Premier League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday.
The Hammers will have to make do without key playmaker Lucas Paqueta, who is now a doubt for the trip to Chelsea after suffering a groin injury in the final moments of their 1-1 draw with Aston Villa. Paqueta has been a crucial figure for manager Graham Potter, playing as a makeshift striker due to the ongoing injury crisis that has seen other attacking options such as Jarrod Bowen, Niclas Fullkrug, Michail Antonio, and Crysencio Summerville sidelined.
Potter addressed the situation during his pre-match press conference, stating, “We’re just monitoring and looking after him. He hasn’t trained so far this week, but we’re hopeful that he will train at the back end of the week.” The Brazilian’s absence could leave a significant void, with the Hammers struggling for attacking depth ahead of their tough encounter against Chelsea.
In addition to Paqueta’s injury, West Ham will also be without Summerville, who is still recovering from a hamstring issue. However, there is some positive news for the Hammers as Bowen is expected to make his return after recovering from a fractured foot. Bowen has been out since December following the injury he sustained against Liverpool, but Potter remains optimistic that the winger could feature in Monday’s game, which would be a significant boost for the team.
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Potter provided further insight into Bowen’s recovery, saying, “Jarrod is more positive now, obviously with a few more days to train. It’s looking hopeful. He’s trained the last two days, so we’ve still got some more training sessions to go. We’re hopeful for him.” Bowen’s return could provide much-needed stability and attacking threat, especially as West Ham continue to struggle with a lack of fit strikers. With the January transfer window closing soon, it seems increasingly unlikely that the club will sign a new forward this month, despite the continued injury concerns.
Evan Ferguson as an Option
West Ham have been linked with Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, a player who played under Potter during his time at the Seagulls. However, Ferguson is also currently sidelined with an injury, leaving West Ham’s options limited. Potter, though, stressed that panic buying a striker would not be the solution, emphasizing the importance of finding the right fit for the team. “Signing a player in January is easy. There are so many agents pushing players left, right, and center. But the right player, for the right price, and fitting into the group—that’s the difficult thing,” Potter explained.
With the Chelsea game fast approaching, Potter is preparing for his return to Stamford Bridge for the first time since his departure in April 2023, after less than seven months in charge. Reflecting on his time at Chelsea, Potter said, “I am looking forward to it. I went back there as a pundit, had some good times there, some special nights against AC Milan and Dortmund in the Champions League.” Despite his brief tenure, Potter expressed gratitude for his time at Chelsea, acknowledging that the experience ultimately brought him to West Ham, where he is now focused on guiding the club through a challenging season.
