Alan Pardew is optimistic of having Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini back in time for the Gameweek 8 derby with Sunderland. James McClean and Glenn Whelan pull out of the Republic of Ireland squad, Steven Caulker praises Andre Villas-Boas for handing him a first-team opportunity, Bacary Sagna hits the comeback trail for Arsenal, while Gaston Ramirez may be out until mid-November…
Alan Pardew is hoping he will be able to call upon the services of his first-choice centre-halves and keeper for Newcastle’s Gameweek 8 trip to Sunderland. Speaking on the prospects of Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini making a return for the derby, he revealed:
“We hope they are back and available for Sunderland. But we’ll have to wait and see for Tim Krul. It would be nice to have the option.”
Pardew has managed to field the trio together on just two occasions this season – one of the fundamental reasons as to why Newcastle have provided just a single clean sheet in the opening seven Gameweeks. Indeed, with those couple of matches – Gameweeks 2 and 3 – seeing Cheick Tiote sidelined with a calf injury, the Magpies boss has yet to field his first-choice XI once this term. With the Ivorian fit after a calf problem and Danny Simpson now back after a hamstring injury, the prospect of Taylor, Coloccini and Krul could fall perfectly for a strong run of games ahead. After the Tyne-Wear derby, Newcastle have three home games (WBA, WHM, SWA) and a trip to Southampton in the following five, with Pardew’s key assets looking primed for investment.
Staying in the north east, Martin O’Neill is confident James McClean will be available for the Black Cats. The winger has pulled out of international duty for the Republic of Ireland squad after picking up a hip problem. McClean, who has played every minute this season for Sunderland, complained of pain after Saturday’s defeat at City – scans have since revealed he has suffered a grade one strain, though the upcoming fortnight’s break should afford him the time to return to full fitness.
Glenn Whelan has also pulled out of Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad. The Stoke man picked up a hamstring problem at Liverpool on Sunday afternoon and could be set for a spell on the sidelines after lasting just 19 minutes at Anfield. Geoff Cameron has recently been filling in at right-back due to Andy Wilkinson’s suspension but with the latter now available after serving a three-match ban, Cameron’s versatility could afford him a role in midfield as Whelan’s replacement, with Wilkinson returning to the back-four.
Steven Caulker has praised Andre Villas-Boas for handing some of Spurs’ youngsters a chance to impress in the first-team this term:
“It’s important for a player to know that if you’re training well and playing well, you’ll be in the team. It’s not nice when there are favourites. I think the manager has brought that in and I am happy. He has brought a few youngsters in, myself included, and he has pushed us forward. There’s a good mood in the camp and I hope that continues.”
The centre-half was shipped off on loan to Swansea by Harry Redknapp last season but has been handed a chance to impress after a spate of recent injuries at the back. With Jan Vertonghen shifted to left-back to cover for the sidelined Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Kyle Naughton, Caulker has started the last four in all competitions alongside William Gallas for the London outfit. Chipping in with a goal, assist and clean sheet in the last three league games, he’s made a persuasive case for holding onto the starting berth, even when the injuries start to ease.
Bacary Sagna edged closer to a first-team return yesterday. The right-back was handed an hour-long run-out for the Arsenal Under 21 side against Reading and came through unscathed in the 2-0 win. While the Frenchman will still be eased tentatively back into action after sustaining two broken legs in the previous year, yesterday’s news will surely put Carl Jenkinson owners on edge – the latter’s FPL price has risen 0.6 up to 5.1 due to his cut-price appeal. Sagna, now as low as 5.4, looks an intriguing proposition if, as expected, he returns to the first-team fold once fully match-fit. The match also saw Jack Wilshere continue his recovery from a long-term ankle injury, while Danny Guthrie turned out for the Royals after his omission from the last two league matches.
Swansea’s Ben Davies has spoken out on his progress at the Liberty and declared that he is more than capable of playing out the season at left-back. Davies came into the side following the long-term injury suffered by Neil Taylor and has presented Fantasy managers with a budget route to Michael Laudrup’s defence – Davies is priced at just 4.0 in the Fantasy Premier League game, with a 3.6 price tag in the Sky Sports game. Although Laudrup moved to acquire the services of Dwight Tiendalli as cover, Davies has played every game since Taylor’s injury. While Davies provides a tempting option, the Swans’ defence has suffered since the reshuffle; they’ve conceded 11 goals in their last five games. Nevertheless, Fantasy managers could well look to Davies as the season progresses should he remain a fixture at left-back. The young Welshman brought us this in a recent interview…
“If needs be I’ll play all season, but it all comes down to Michael Laudrup and what he wants to do…Some people think, as a young player, it’s impossible to play every week because I might get worn out…At the moment I’m happy to play every week and do the best I can. The manager’s shown a bit of faith in me and that’s only down to how I’ve been playing. Hopefully if I can keep on playing well, I’ll have more of a chance to play games.”
The Independent are carrying an interesting article on Shinji Kagawa this morning in which they offer a translation of a recent interview with the player for the Japanese press. In the piece, Kagawa is quoted as stating that he’s been asked to improve his goal threat, something that could be addressed simply by ensuring he spends more time facing the opponents goal. According to Kagawa, Sir Alex Ferguson has offered the following instruction…
“Don’t face the goal with your back, but move your body so you have a short way to the goal. Shape your body so you are facing the stands…I have to face the goal or I won’t be a threat.”
Kagawa also goes on to talk on the physical demands of the Premier League…
“I’ve realised that I need to limber up and strengthen my body trunk.”
Kagawa has already notched two goals in the league, with Ferguson obviously feeling that he can offer more in this area. The former Dortmund man has substituted the midfielder in all but one of his Premier League showings so far, having replaced him on 54 minutes of the Newcastle clash on Sunday – as a result of his manger’s tinkering, Kagawa has experienced steady sales over the past four Gameweeks in the FPL.
Reports suggest Gaston Ramirez could be sidelined until mid-November with a leg problem. The Uruguayan missed Sunday’s draw with Fulham due to the problem, with Southampton boss Nigel Adkins revealing after the game:
“The muscle swelled up very much because there was nowhere for the blood to go, so there was a lot of pressure on his thigh. He has had to have a couple of days in hospital to try and relieve the pressure, so obviously he is not going to go and join the Uruguayan team over the international break.”
With a reasonable run of fixtures on the horizon for the Saints, Ramirez’s mid-price appeal and role in “the hole” had seen him pencilled in by many Fantasy managers as a possible acquisition. While plans will be on hold now, the form of Adam Lallana could affords us a viable alternative to the former Bologna man; Lallana has now produced an assist in each of his last three appearances and could start to pick up investment if he continues in the same vein.
