Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta has emerged as a doubt for the 2022 World Cup after sustaining a "serious" shoulder injury, according to West Ham United manager David Moyes.
The 25-year-old picked up his injury in the closing stages of the Hammers' 1-1 Premier League draw away at Southampton on Sunday.
Paqueta subsequently missed the 1-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night, and Moyes has expressed his disappointment to lose such a key player.
Speaking to Amazon Prime after the match, the Scotsman said: "[Paqueta'] got an injury, and it's quite serious at the moment.
"I'm not sure how exactly long it's going to keep him out but obviously he's been a huge player for us in recent weeks.
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"He was just beginning to come into form and give us a different type of dynamic really. We're really disappointed to lose him."
Paqueta is yet to score for the Hammers since signing for a club-record fee from Lyon over the summer, but the Brazilian was beginning to find his feet under Moyes and started each of their last four Premier League games prior to the trip to Anfield.
Brazil head coach Tite will now be sweating over the fitness of the midfielder, who was set to be included in his 26-man squad for the tournament in Qatar.
Paqueta has featured 34 times for the national team and started in nine of their 10 South American qualifiers over the last 12 months.
The five-time World Cup winners will be taking on Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G, with their first fixture against the former on November 24.
Paqueta is the latest high-profile Premier League player who is at risk of missing the World Cup through injury, along with the likes of Brazilian teammate Richarlison and England trio Reece James, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips.
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In Paqueta's absence, Moyes handed fellow summer signing Flynn Downes his first Premier League start against Liverpool, and the West Ham boss believes that the 23-year-old is "ready" to play regularly in the first team.
Speaking before the defeat at Anfield, Moyes said: "Well he's certainly ready to [step up]. It's now down to him to go and show it on one of the biggest stages.
"We like him a lot and we think he has a lot of potential for the future as well "[He has] good legs, good energy so hopefully he can help us tonight."
West Ham saw their five-game unbeaten run across all competitions come to and end on Merseyside courtesy of a Darwin Nunez header, and the Hammers now sit 13th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone and five behind Liverpool in seventh place.
Oliver Thomas
