Lucas Paquetá

Team News: Paquetá returns as one of three changes for Brentford battle

Brazilian star Lucas Paquetá is set to make his first West Ham United appearance since 7 January under the lights at home to Brentford, as one of three changes made to the starting XI by manager David Moyes.

The 26-year-old has been subjected to the sidelines since hobbling out of the 1-1 FA Cup draw against Bristol City last month, but now returns to the fold in place of Michail Antonio after completing his recovery from a calf injury.

While he looks to add to his tally of five goals in all competitions this season, also aiming to strike at the top end of the field will be Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen, who both got on the scoresheet in the reverse fixture in November.

Kalvin Phillips drops out of the line-up through suspension, having picked up a red card for two bookable offences last time out at Nottingham Forest, with Tomáš Souček taking his place next to Edson Álvarez and James Ward-Prowse in midfield.

Brentford

Further back, Dinos Mavropanos comes in for Nayef Aguerd to partner skipper Kurt Zouma in central defence, and Vladimír Coufal and Emerson keep their places in the full-back positions. Alphonse Areola starts in goal.

There is plenty of experience on the bench, with Łukasz Fabiański, Angelo Ogbonna, Aguerd, Danny Ings and Antonio among the nine replacements, while Ben Johnson, George Earthy, Ollie Scarles and Divin Mubama will also look to make an impact if called upon by boss Moyes.
 

West Ham United: Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma ©, Emerson, Souček, Álvarez, Ward-Prowse, Paquetá, Kudus, Bowen
Subs: Fabiański (GK), Johnson, Ogbonna, Aguerd, Scarles, Earthy, Mubama, Ings, Antonio
 

Brentford: Flekken, Jørgensen, Ajer, Mee, Reguilón, Onyeka, Jensen, Nørgaard ©, Lewis-Potter, Maupay, Toney
Subs: Strakosha (GK), Wissa, Ghoddos, Collins, Damsgaard, Baptiste, Janelt, Roerslev, Yarmolyuk


Referee: Simon Hooper

 

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