Scout Scribbles- Valencia on Course for Quick Return

Antonio Valencia could be back in time to face Spurs next week. Harry Redknapp is hopeful four key players will be available to face Arsenal on Sunday afternoon. Darron Gibson has picked up a knee problem, Gabby Agbonlahor is fit for Villa, while Roy Hodgson is happy to keep Peter Odemwingie out wide:

Antonio Valencia may be on course for a return against Tottenham next weekend. The winger was previously thought to be out for up to four weeks after injuring a hamstring against Ajax last week but Sir Alex Ferguson revealed yesterday that the problem isn’t serious and expects Valencia to be back “within a week or so”. If he recovers in time for the Gameweek 27 clash, this means the Ecuadorian would miss just one league game with the problem- he has already dropped 0.1 in price, with over 60,000 Fantasy managers transferring him out on the back of Ferguson’s initial prognosis.

Still on the subject of United wingers, Nani admitted last night that he’s still not at his best after a recent foot injury. The Portuguese star has missed the last three league games, with his price dropping by 0.5 since he limped off at Arsenal in Gameweek 22, but has played both his side’s Europa League games over the last week as he builds up his fitness:

It’s a bit difficult to get consistency for 90 minutes, but I’m getting there and I will work hard to come back. Now I’m not at my best but in the next games I will work hard to be at my best as quick as possible.

The Mirror have suggested Tom Cleverley has sustained another ankle injury. The midfielder has missed a large part of the season due to the problem but is said to have suffered a recurrence in last night’s Europa League game with Ajax. United have yet to comment on the matter but Cleverley is reportedly set to pull out of the England squad to face Holland next week, having been subbed off for Paul Scholes on the hour mark against the Dutch side.

Darron Gibson has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad after picking up a knee injury. The former United midfielder has had an immediate impact at Everton, with the club unbeaten in five league games since he joined in mid-January but with the Toffees having a blank Gameweek this weekend, there is time to assess the injury, with the extent currently unknown.

Gabby Agbonlahor and Chris Herd are both available for Aston Villa this weekend. The former has been sidelined for the last three league games due to a hamstring strain but has recovered in time for the trip to Wigan. Herd last played in Gameweek 15 and has been out due to an ankle problem but may come back into the first XI, having struck up an impressive partnership with Stiliyan Petrov in central midfield prior to picking up his injury.

Roy Hodgson has heaped praise on Peter Odemwingie’s upturn in form, after the Nigerian’s recent hat-trick over Wolves. After an indifferent start to the season, the Baggies boss reckons he is finally getting the best out of Odemwingie after moving him to the right flank at Molineux and has indicated he’s likely to maintain that tactic, given its recent success. This suggests Marc-Antoine Fortune or Shane Long could be set to lead the line against Sunderland this gameweek, with Hodgson admitting:

He (Odemwingie) came to the club as a right-winger so it’s nothing new for him. He did it last year for us on a few occasions. It’s not unusual for him to play there and maybe he is happy there, sometimes maybe he’d be happier playing centrally. If he’s getting enough of the ball, then I’m sure he’s happy out there otherwise he’ll be wanting to move back into the centre.

The Mail reported earlier that Benoit Assou-Ekotto is winning his fitness battle ahead of Sunday’s trip to Arsenal. The left-back missed last weekend’s FA Cup trip to Stevenage after undergoing a minor groin operation but seems to be on course for a comeback in the north London derby. Good news for both his Fantasy owners and Gareth Bale’s, with the Welshman a possible replacement in defence should Assou-Ekotto fail to recover in time.

Spurs have since confirmed this report via their official twitter feed. Harry Redknapp revealed in his Friday press conference that he is hopeful Assou-Ekotto, Luka Modric, Rafael Van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor will all be ready in time for the Emirates match. Sandro remains sidelined, however, as does William Gallas.