Scout Scribbles – Fitness Doubts Over French Duo for Pardew

Alan Pardew is sweating over the fitness of Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa ahead of Tottenham’s visit to the Sports Direct Arena on Saturday evening. Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign wide man Oussama Assaidi from SC Heerenveen, Norwich snap up former City left-back Javier Garrido on loan, while Swansea sign Kyle Bartley from Arsenal…

Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa both remain “still doubtful” for Newcastle’s home clash with Spurs on Saturday evening, according to Alan Pardew. The French duo have barely featured in pre-season due to their Euro 2012 commitments and, while Ben Arfa’s omission is likely to hand Sylvain Marveaux a starting role on the right flank, the possible absence of Cabaye could be offset by the news that the Magpies have signed Vurnon Anita from Ajax on a five-year deal. The 23-year old can also play in defence but Pardew admitted yesterday that he anticipates his new signing to mainly feature in midfield in the season ahead. The Newcastle boss also revealed Papiss Cisse has recovered from a recent hamstring problem and will be available for selection against Andre Villas-Boas’ side – Pardew failed to mention Demba Ba, who has been nursing a shin problem, though it’s worth remembering the Senegalese striker slumped in form this time last year after fasting during Ramadan.

Liverpool have agreed terms with SC Heerenveen for the transfer of winger Oussama Assaidi. The deal is subject to a medical but, upon completion, is likely to raise concerns over the club’s bid to sign Clint Dempsey from Fulham. The Reds have been linked with the US international all season but with Assaidi’s preferred position as an inverted winger on the left, it may well be that Brendan Rodgers has given up on the chase to snap up Dempsey, bearing in mind that Luis Suarez is likely to be fielded on the flanks in Rodgers’ preferred 4-3-3 formation. The transfer also raises question marks over the game time of Stewart Downing – the former Villa man has been stationed on the right in recent matches and, at 6.5 in FPL, had looked an intriguing prospect, but he could well be restricted to a sub role is Assaidi completes his move.

Norwich yesterday completed the signing of Javier Garrido from Lazio on a season-long loan. The former Man City left-back’s return to the Premier League immediately raises major question marks over the game time of Marc Tierney for the season ahead as Chris Hughton continues to bolster his backline. Having shipped 66 goals and returned three clean sheets under Paul Lambert in 2011/12, the Canaries defence was given a wide berth by Fantasy managers but pre-season results have been encouraging, with four clean sheets in the last six friendlies and Tierney – priced at 4.0 in FPL – looked an intriguing option. Dependant on Garrido’s price, it could well that one of Ryan Bennett or Leon Barnett may afford us a cut-price route into Hughton’s backline for the season ahead.

Swansea have signed Kyle Bartley from Arsenal on a three-year deal. The deal is something of a surprise from a Fantasy perspective – with Chico already arriving from Genoa, we’d anticipated the Spaniard forging a partnership with Ashley Williams at the heart of the Welsh club’s defence but Michael Laudrup looks to have other ideas up his sleeve. With a strong starting schedule, the Swans backline seem primed for investment but with doubts surrounding the central areas, Angel Rangel and Neil Taylor could well be a safer bet until we discover the new manager’s intentions. Bartley has yet to be added to the Fantasy games and, while all their main defenders are priced at 5.0 in FPL, Rangel, at 5.7 in the Sky Sports game, looks like the most secure route into Laudrup’s backline right now. Reports have also suggested the Dane is ready to bring Pablo Hernandez to the club, raising question marks over Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer with just one day before tomorrow’s big kick-off – hardly ideal as we look to whittle our squads into shape.