Once again twitter brought us some important injury news, with Sergio Aguero confirming that he is fit and available for international duty. Rafael Van der Vaart has used his own website to reveal he is confident of turning out for Spurs next week:
For the second day running, we received some significant injury news via the medium of twitter. Sergio Aguero’s Fantasy owners will be breathing a sigh of relief after the Man City forward used his twitter stream to announce he is “fully recovered” for Argentina’s match with Columbia tomorrow, after missing Friday’s game against Bolivia with a muscle strain.
Rafael Van der Vaart’s official website brought the news that the Dutchman reckons he’s on track to recover from a hamstring strain and face Aston Villa next Monday. The Tottenham talisman’s announcement will be music to the ears of Fantasy managers as he revealed:
It doesn’t feel too bad, feels like a tiny muscle rupture. I hope I’ll be fit soon and expect to play next Monday against Aston Villa.
With nine wins and a draw from their last eleven games, it seems as if Arsenal have turned the corner after a poor start to the season. The new players are gelling, Robin Van Persie is scoring almost every time he takes to the pitch and Arsene Wenger, speaking to Arsenal Player, reckons his side have matured by reining in their attacking nature:
I would say we are a bit more controlled and less cavalier. We are less adventurous when the job is done, I must say. You can feel that there is some reserve there if needed. In the second half against West Brom we just kept it serious without going overboard. Overall I would say it is a more mature attitude. We were more functional. We did the job properly, with quality and, I must say, with seriousness.
Simone Mignolet will be unable to maintain his fitness levels during his time on the sidelines with a fractured nose and eye socket. The Sunderland keeper is expected to be out for around two months but is continuing to suffer from the after effects of the injury, explaining that headaches and nosebleeds are forcing him to rest completely until healed. What’s more frustrating for the Belgian is that the injury has occurred just prior to the Black Cats most favourable run of fixtures so far this season.
Sunderland’s Ji Dong-won was hauled off at half time in South Korea’s 2-0 win over UAE, with his national manager criticising the forward’s fitness levels. Dong-won played eighty-five minutes in his club’s recent defeat at Man United and with Connor Wickham out injured, could be set to partner Nicklas Bendtner up front for Steve Bruce’s side. According to Cho Kwang-Rae, though:
Ji’s condition was really bad. He was not good in training so I considered not to play him and he was worse in the match than I thought. So I had to replace him at half-time. His balance is off and his shooting timing is slow. I think he’s physically really poor now.
Stephen Kelly has been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland’s second leg play-off game against Estonia with a groin problem. Assistant boss Marco Tardelli confirmed his absence after yesterday’s training session. It’s unclear if the injury will keep the right-back out of Fulham’s trip to Sunderland but it’s the last thing Martin Jol needs, with Zdenek Grygera ruled out for around six months with anterior cruciate ligament damage, though Chris Baird has also been utilised in the position this term.
Phil Jagielka has returned to Everton after being given early release from the England camp. The centre half has been bothered with a toe injury for the last few weeks and although he turned out for Fabio Capello’s side against Spain, Jagielka has stressed he is fit and raring to go ahead of next weekend’s home encounter with Wolves:
I’m fit. There is nothing wrong with me other than I’ve got a little broken toe. It’s nothing an injection won’t take care of. Obviously it numbs the toe for a few hours and it will be a little bit sore for a while. There was an agreement with the club that they’d let me play against Spain which was brilliant. It was a small risk but one I was prepared to take. It will take four weeks to mend without playing but double with playing. I’ve got a few more weeks with injections yet. I get paid to play football so if I’ve got to have an injection to do so, it’s simple.
Stuart Holden is happy with his progress from a knee operation as he steps up his rehabilitation. The Bolton midfielder had only just returned from a long-term problem in September when a routine operation hinted at further complications and sidelined him once again. Holden admitted it’s been mentally tough more than anything but feels he has now turned the corner and is positive about his chances of a return.
Swansea’s Neil Taylor missed Wales’ weekend win over Norway with a bruised ankle but should be available for selection next Saturday when the Welsh club play host to Man United. Wales boss Gary Speed explained his decision to omit the player from his side:
He got a knock at Liverpool for Swansea and his ankle was just too sore to play. He was very disappointed but his ankle is black and blue. You can play on it but it doesn’t make it better and you have to look after these players because he has a big game next weekend against Manchester United.
12 years, 5 months agohttp://www.rafaelvandervaart.com/miss-hamburg.aspx