West Ham’s manager Graham Potter stated on Friday that forward Lucas Paqueta remains determined to return to the field, despite facing a Football Association hearing regarding alleged spot-fixing charges.
The Brazilian international is accused of intentionally receiving yellow cards in four Premier League matches for betting gains.
This week, it was reported that the disciplinary proceedings against him are set to commence later this month and could extend over three weeks.
According to sources, the Football Association is advocating for a lifetime ban should Paqueta be found guilty of the allegations.
The 27-year-old has strongly denied the accusations and is committed to “fighting with every breath” to vindicate his name.
Potter mentioned that Paqueta, who is currently eligible to represent both his club and the national team, may be in contention for Monday’s fixture against Newcastle after having recently sprained his ankle during training.
“He is in good shape. Naturally, he has felt disappointed by missing a couple of matches due to his injury,” Potter remarked.
“However, he has put in a tremendous effort to get back on the pitch. His training has been excellent this week. I’ve seen no issues whatsoever with him. Since I arrived, he has consistently given his all in both training and matches.
“As for the other matters, they are beyond my control, but in terms of his daily performance, he has been fantastic.”
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