Official: Lucas Paqueta ruled out for West Ham vs Manchester United on Thursday

Lucas Paqueta will not be eligible to face Manchester United on Thursday, a timely boost for United before a high-stakes meeting. The Brazilian is West Ham’s creative heartbeat and primary link to Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus, so his absence forces David Moyes to redraw the plan. Expect more direct play, deeper build-up through James Ward-Prowse, and extra defensive load on Edson Alvarez. On the United side, the mood has lifted with Lisandro Martinez back in the squad, adding bite and calm on the left side of defense. This swings midfield control toward United and trims West Ham’s threat between the lines.

The confirmation arrived in the build-up to Thursday night’s tie between West Ham United and Manchester United. The timing is significant, coming alongside upbeat news from the United camp about Lisandro Martinez returning to action for the first time since February. Fan chatter quickly pivoted to what Paqueta’s absence means for West Ham’s balance and how United should capitalize after claiming three big points in their last away outing. The matchup sits in a congested period, raising the stakes on selection and rhythm for both sides.

🚨 OFFICIAL: Lucas Paqueta will not be eligible to face Manchester United on Thursday.

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

From a rival perspective, this is the kind of pre-match twist that changes the whole tone of the evening. Paqueta is the glue in West Ham’s possession chains. He draws fouls, links central zones to the right channel with quick combinations, and dictates the tempo when the first press is broken. Without him, West Ham lose their most reliable connector between midfield and the final third. That means fewer disguised passes into Bowen’s diagonal runs and reduced quality in the last pass to Kudus on isolation plays.

Practically, Moyes will either push Kudus into central pockets or ask Ward-Prowse to shoulder more progression, which blunts their set-play weapon because he will be busier shuttling. Alvarez will have to cover wider gaps, which is a gift for United’s 8s who love to break lines late. If United keep their distances tight and squeeze the half-spaces, West Ham’s attacks will tilt into hopeful crosses and second-ball scrambles.

Factor in Martinez’s return, and United gain aggression in duels plus cleaner exits on their left. That reduces turnovers that often fuel West Ham transitions. In short, United have no excuse here: midfield control should be theirs, and the territorial battle should swing their way early. This is the opening that turns a tricky night into a professional win if they manage game state and avoid cheap fouls near the box.

Reaction

The community mood split along predictable lines. United fans greeted the news like a green light. One supporter joked about Paqueta’s luck while another declared this is already tilting in United’s favor. A more demanding voice went further, insisting that if United do not win with a clean sheet, the staff and players should face hard questions. That intensity matches the buzz around Lisandro Martinez’s comeback, with posts celebrating Licha’s return and the club’s own message about three big points on the road adding optimism.

On the West Ham side, realism crept in fast. One comment asked pointedly whether Bowen is fit and warned that their defending has been shaky, urging the focus to shift from individuals to the collective block. Fantasy managers chimed in too, reminding everyone how quickly a game can flip in ten minutes. But even in that framing, most neutrals recognized the immediate loss in West Ham’s chance creation without Paqueta, and the ripple effect it has on Bowen’s shot quality and Kudus’ isolations. The overall read: United’s platform to control the match just got stronger, and West Ham must turn this into a backs-to-the-wall effort.

Social reactions

Goodnews as all things are already working in our favor!

⚽️S🅰️S (@swot_saz)

Yes but bowen is ?! And we r sh** on defending , so we need to top foucsing on individuals and foucs on the whole team

no name (@noname1043415)

I swear if we dont beat them with a clean sheet then amorim and all the players deserve the sack

oldtraffordfc (@old_trafford_11)

Prediction

Three scenarios stand out. First, the most likely: United press with confidence, win second balls, and force West Ham to skip lines. Without Paqueta to knit play, the Hammers lean on early passes to Bowen and Kudus, but United’s back line, steadied by Martinez, manages those channels. United take a one-goal lead before halftime and close the game with controlled possession.

Second, Moyes pushes Kudus centrally and asks Ward-Prowse to hit quicker diagonals to Bowen. This can work if United concede set pieces in volume. West Ham stay alive through restarts and a late flurry, but the lack of sustained entries into zone 14 keeps their xG modest.

Third, a chaos game: United miss early chances, West Ham find a transition through Bowen, and it becomes a tug of war of momentum. Even then, United should have the deeper bench and better control of midfield spaces. My call: United by a goal, with West Ham’s clearest openings tied to set plays rather than crafted sequences.

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Conclusion

For United, this is the break you pounce on. The fixture density rarely hands out advantages like this, and Paqueta’s absence strips West Ham of their best bridge between buildup and the front line. It shifts responsibility onto Ward-Prowse and Kudus to create under pressure and onto Alvarez to extinguish fires in wider zones. If United show the same conviction that fueled their latest away win and fold Martinez’s bite back into the structure, they should boss territory and tempo.

West Ham are rugged and dangerous from dead balls, so the trap is obvious: concede cheap fouls, invite pressure, and gift them lifelines. Avoid that, keep distances tight, and progress cleanly through the first press, and the night tilts red. Bottom line: the path is clear for United to turn a good week into a statement one. Anything less than a professional job would be a missed opportunity.