Lucas Paqueta injury latest ahead of crunch West Ham v Nottingham Forest clash

Lucas Paqueta looks likely to return on Tuesday night (Picture: Getty Images)

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has remained coy on the fitness of Lucas Paqueta but the Brazilian has been training ahead of the big clash with Nottingham Forest .

It is a massive match in east London on Tuesday night between two struggling sides.

The Hammers are 18th in the Premier League table, four points and one place behind Forest.

West Ham are coming off a nightmare performance at bottom club Wolves, where they were beaten 3-0 on Saturday, while Forest come into the game off the back of four straight defeats.

Paqueta missed the trip to Molineux with a back injury, but looks likely to return at the London Stadium on Tuesday.

Speaking ahead of the match, Espirito Santo addressed both the Brazil international and French defender Jean-Clair Todibo, who has been struggling with a groin problem.

‘We have to assess both of them, JC and Lucas,’ said the manager. ‘They are trying hard to be involved after painful situations. We still have tomorrow (Tuesday) to see how they are and see if they can be involved in the squad.’

Paqueta has scored four Premier League goals this season (Picture: Getty Images)

West Ham posted pictures from a training session on Monday, which showed Paqueta in action and he appeared to be fully involved with the rest of his teammates.

The Hammers boss will also have two new options at his disposal after the signings of striker Pablo Felipe from Portuguese side Gil Vicente and Argentina international forward Taty Castellanos from Lazio.

‘Grateful because it was a need,’ the manager told Sky Sports of the new arrivals. ‘I think we have done well in a transfer window that is very tricky to operate. Pablo was at the Wolves game, now we have Taty and we hope we can have more.

Taty Castellanos has arrived at West Ham (Picture: Getty Images)

‘We hope that we can have more because it’s the right moment to try and impact the squad and give to the squad the help that it deserves and needs. We need options.

‘We are really positive. I think the club is working really, really hard on that aspect. But we have to realise that it was really important that we do so. There’s a lot of football to be played and we need to be stronger, so we can fight with more weapons.’

Our journalists work hard to deliver the most important stories from around the world

He added: ‘They are two players that I really believe can bring new things to the team. We had many, many names coming across and Pablo and Taty were the ones that I personally consider that can create an impact. Us as coaches and clubs, these are good chances to try and rebalance.’

Nuno Espirito Santo is under a lot of pressure at West Ham (Picture: Getty Images)

West Ham were appalling in defeat at Molineux, Wolves’ first win of the season, and Espirito Santo admits he is at a loss as to what happened.

‘I’m very honest with you, I still don’t know,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘We looked at the game, we analysed the game, we spoke about the game, the players are aware of what happened in the game.