West Ham United’s Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta will be available for the Premier League return against Arsenal, according to reports.
The midfield duo are set to return to Rush Green after both suffered the pain of a World Cup quarter-final defeat in Qatar. Paqueta featured in Brazil’s penalty shootout loss against Croatia on Friday, whereas Rice played all 90 minutes in England’s 2-1 defeat against France a day later.
According to the Evening Standard, both will now be given ten days off before returning to training with West Ham next week. The Hammers are hoping both will be ready for selection against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day.
READ MORE: West Ham coach's admission on rest for World Cup stars ahead of Premier League return vs Arsenal
Meanwhile, Germany defender Thilo Kehrer is due to return to training at the start of next week. The Germans were knocked out at the group stage after finishing third in Group E behind Japan and Spain respectively, with Kehrer playing 70 minutes of the 1-1 draw against the Spanish.
Rice started all five matches for England in Qatar, whereas Paqueta missed just one match in Brazil’s run to the quarter-finals. West Ham currently have two players still at the tournament in Nayef Aguerd (Morocco) and Alphonse Areola (France).
Areola is the only goalkeeper in the France squad who has not played so far. Aguerd started in all three of Morocco’s Group F games but a thigh injury picked up in the last 16 tie with Spain ruled him out for the quarter-final win against Portugal.
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