West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui has lost Lucas Paqueta to suspension ahead of Boxing Day's Premier League battle with Southampton at St Mary's.

The Brazil international picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend, but thankfully for Lopetegui, he has a ready-made replacement returning from his own ban.

Indeed, Carlos Soler sat out the visit of the Seagulls due to a totting-up of bookings, but the refreshed Spaniard will surely now be a straight swap for Paqueta in the most advanced midfield position.

Soler will rejoin attacking stalwarts Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen on the South Coast, while Niclas Fullkrug should hold his place up front as Michail Antonio recovers from his car crash injuries, despite being taken off with less than an hour gone last time out.

Lopetegui should also persist with Edson Alvarez and Tomas Soucek in the deeper midfield slots, but he did confirm in his pre-game press conference that two unnamed players are touch-and-go with injuries.

While the West Ham boss does not like to name names, it can be assumed that Dinos Mavropanos - who was withdrawn at half time against Brighton due to a knock - is one half of the doubtful duo.

Jean-Clair Todibo should therefore be able to look forward to a recall alongside Max Kilman in defence, where Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri will also shield Lukasz Fabianski.

West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Soler, Kudus; Fullkrug

> Click here to see how Southampton could line up for this clash

Written by
Ben Knapton