West Ham: Graham Potter issues Lucas Paqueta and Vladimir Coufal injury update before Leicester clash | OneFootball

Hammers boss vows not to take struggling Foxes lightly despite Ruud van Nistelrooy’s ongoing woes

Sidelined: West Ham are currently without both Lucas Paqueta (centre) and Vladimir Coufal (right) due to injury

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West Ham duo Lucas Paqueta and Vladimir Coufal have not recovered from injury in time for Thursday’s match against Leicester.

Brazilian playmaker Paqueta has been sidelined since sustaining an ankle injury during training last week and missed Saturday’s 1-0 win at Arsenal.

“Both are progressing,” Hammers boss Graham Potter said in his pre-Leicester press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

“Vladi, [there is] certainly a chance for Newcastle [on Monday]. Lucas, we’ll just have to see how he responds. But certainly for Leicester, no.”

West Ham will hope that victory at the Emirates Stadium can inspire another three points against Leicester, whose struggles have seen them lose their last four matches across all competitions since a shock 2-1 win away at Tottenham on January 26.

“In the Premier League, every game is complicated and every game is tough,” said Potter, who remains without Michail Antonio, Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville.

“The opponent has always got something to fight for, always got something to prove, always got some quality against you.

“That’s the case with Leicester. They’ll be looking to turn their fortunes around. We have to have a humility and a respect for the opponent, which we have.”