Predicted: Nuno makes big call on Lucas Paqueta replacement as West Ham duo declared fit to face Bournemouth

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Predicted: Nuno makes big call on Lucas Paqueta replacement as West Ham duo declared fit to face Bournemouth

West Ham are looking to secure three wins on the spin when they go to Bournemouth and Nuno Espirito Santo has made a big decision on who will replace Lucas Paqueta after a double boost.

In many ways the November international break came at a bad time for the Hammers off the back of their first consecutive wins for nine months.

But Nuno Espirito Santo insisted it was needed as he looks to get his ideas fully across to his West Ham squad.

Wins over Newcastle and Burnley saw West Ham go level on points with the 17th-placed Clarets before the break.

West Ham can fully turn the corner at Bournemouth

Now Nuno’s side have the chance to go as high as 14th if they can make it three in a row at Bournemouth.

Andoni Iraola’s side have been one of the success stories of the last couple of seasons.

Bournemouth were second in the Premier League recently.

But the Cherries have dropped down the table after consecutive defeats to Man City and Aston Villa in which they shipped seven goals.

Ahead of facing West Ham, Iraola revealed he will be missing a host of key players for the game including star man Antoine Semenyo.

Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images

That should give West Ham great encouragement about getting another positive result.

Nuno does have his own issues, though.

Lucas Paqueta picked up a fifth booking of the season in the win over Burnley, meaning he is suspended for Bournemouth.

Paqueta has stated he loves having a manager who speaks his native Portuguese as it gives him more clarity about his role and what is expected.

That has shown in his performances since Nuno’s arrival too with the Brazilian more like his brilliant best.

Speaking ahead of the trip to the Vitality, Nuno said Paqueta is ‘irreplaceable’ for West Ham.

Hammers duo fit as Nuno makes big call on Paqueta replacement

So he has a big dilemma over who to bring into the side.

They say never change a winning team but Nuno will be forced into at least one change as a result of Paqueta’s suspension.

Nuno looks set to make a big call on his Paqueta replacement as West Ham are boosted by the declaration that two stars are fit to face Bournemouth.

West Ham have posted images and video footage showing both Freddie Potts and Niclas Fullkrug in full training ahead of the match.

Potts suffered what looked like a serious injury in the win over Burnley and had to be replaced.

Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images

Hammers News revealed Potts suffered a dead leg but would be fine for Bournemouth.

Fullkrug returns to the squad after another six weeks out through injury.

The German looks all but certain to leave West Ham in January but will be considered for selection by Nuno until then given the dearth of striker options available to him and what is at stake for the Hammers in their battle to stay up.

Nuno may consider changing shape for the trip to Bournemouth given Paqueta’s absence.

But he has found a nice balance of late and we think there will only be one change to the starting XI from the side which beat Burnley 3-2.

Many think that change will see good old Tomas Soucek come in to replace Paqueta.

Magassa to start as Fernandes fills West Ham’s Paqueta void?

Soucek has been coming on as a super sub auxiliary striker of late to great effect, scoring in both wins before the break.

But we think Nuno will instead bring Soungoutou Magassa back into the side from the start and release the brilliant Mateus Fernandes to play in Paqueta’s role.

Magassa has been really impressive in training and has also shone in cameos since arriving in a £17m move from Monaco.

Nuno may prefer to keep using Soucek as that impact substitute striker, especially given Fullkrug will likely be rusty after another extended spell on the sidelines.

Callum Wilson keeps his place as the starting striker and will be looking to add to his tally against his old club as he closes on 100 Premier League goals.