Scout Scribbles – Lallana Boost for Saints

Adam Lallana is back in full training for Southampton. Reports suggest Ashley Young could be out for another month for United. David Luiz emerges as a doubt once again for Chelsea. Martin O’Neill’s defensive worries are starting to ease, while Steven Whittaker may return to the bench for Norwich’s FA Cup clash with Luton this weekend…

Adam Lallana is closing in on a comeback for Southampton after a recent spell on the sidelines with a knee injury. The Saints skipper has failed to feature since limping out of the Gameweek 16 match with Reading but after a few weeks of light training, returned to full training yesterday:

“I felt a little bit rusty but it’s my first day back after being out for six-or-seven weeks. It’ll take me a few training sessions but hopefully I haven’t lost too much fitness because I’ve been doing quite a lot of running. I’m so eager to get back playing, especially under the new boss. There’s a team of four who have come in, and the gaffer is starting to get his messages across. You saw what style of football he wants us to play on Monday night – the lads came flying out of the traps and were pressing hard. It’s going to be different, but it’s going to be good..the game on Monday [against Everton] was outstanding – the first half was probably the best I’ve seen all season from the stands.”

Unbeaten in their last six, Southampton suffered defeat just once in Lallana’s absence and despite the dismissal of Nigel Adkins, continued their recent form against Everton in their first game under new boss Mauricio Pochettino. While Adkins tended to field Gaston Ramirez on the left due to his captain’s injury, the Uruguayan returned to his more preferred role in “the hole” behind Rickie Lambert and with Lallana edging towards a comeback, the Saints’ attacking potential could soon be set for a turn for the better. Now down to 5.6 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Lallana (with attacking returns in six of his 16 appearances) looks a decent budget differential, though clashes against United and City in the next three will surely deter many from investing. Factor in Pochettino’s high pressing game and it’s likely the midfielder is eased back into action until he reaches match-fitness once again.

Wayne Rooney returned to training for United yesterday, quashing rumours of an injury scare after reports had suggested he had suffered a thigh problem the previous day. Sir Alex Ferguson may have concerns over Ashley Young, however, according to the Mail. The paper claims Young’s knee injury, sustained in the Gameweek 22 clash with Liverpool, could be set to keep him on the sidelines for at least another month – the former Villa man had started 12 of the last 14 league matches before a collision with Daniel Agger forced him off at half-time in the 2-1 win. While United have yet to confirm the Young story, any length of absence could afford Shinji Kagawa more game time after a recent return from a knee complaint – he has now started three of the last four and was even chosen ahead of Rooney for a role in the support striker role away to Spurs last weekend. At 7.9 in FPL and with an ownership of less than 5%, he could well be worth a punt ahead of an enticing run of fixtures which sees them play host to Southampton, Norwich and Reading in the next seven, in addition to trip to Fulham, QPR and West Ham.

Martin O’Neill has revealed the injury situation at Sunderland is starting to ease, with Carlos Cuellar, Danny Rose and Lee Cattermole all closing in on comebacks. According to the Black Cats boss, the trio are “not that far away” from a return and with no FA Cup duties this weekend, have another few days to step their recoveries before the Wearsiders play host to Swansea next Tuesday. While O’Neill was somewhat vague in his prognosis, Cuellar, in particular, will likely be reappearing on Fantasy radars once he’s fit and available – Sunderland have an enticing set of fixtures in the next seven Gameweeks and with four wins in six are starting to hit form. The Spaniard produced two sets of double figure returns in his last three home games before sustaining a hamstring injury and is set to welcome Swansea, Fulham and Norwich to the Stadium of Light in the next seven, in addition to trips to Reading and QPR.

O’Neill also admitted new loan signing Kader Mangane is yet to reach full fitness since arriving from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal earlier this month:

“It is fair to say Kader’s a little bit behind the rest of the lads in terms of his fitness levels but we are looking to address that and we will step that side of things up this week. He has a great physique and presence at the back, he has what it takes to do a job at this level and we will just see how he comes on during his time here in the remainder of this season. Physically, he adds a different dimension to the side and he demonstrated in France over a number of seasons he is a quality player. Once he is fully fit, he will be pushing for a start and giving us competition for places.”

With Cuellar and Rose sidelined and John O’Shea also forced out of two of the last five through injury, O’Neill has had little chance of naming a consistent back-four in recent weeks. Both Titus Bramble and Matt Kilgallon have earned game time as deputies at centre-half but look set for bench roles at best as more options become available to O’Neill – given that the Black Cats have registered eight clean sheets this term, Mangane, at just 4.5 in FPL, could be an intriguing cut-price option if he nails down a regular role; Simon Mignolet has risen to 5.3 now, by comparison.

Norwich’s defensive options looks set to be boosted after Steven Whittaker returned to training earlier this week. Talking to the press ahead of the weekend FA Cup home clash with Luton, Chris Hughton revealed the right-back may feature on the bench as he steps up his comeback from a hip problem that has kept him on the sidelines since Gameweek 18. Whittaker’s absence has afforded Russell Martin the chance to return to the first XI in recent weeks and the Canaries skipper has impressed, with three goals in his last five appearances as a result of his fellow-Scot’s absence. It remains to be seen whether Martin can keep his place when Whittaker is fit and available, though; the former Glasgow Rangers man had started nine back-to-back league matches before picking up his injury.

A report in the Mail this morning is claiming that David Luiz is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a muscle injury in dying stages of Wednesday’s Capital One Cup tie. Luiz returned to the bench having missed the victory over Arsenal with an ankle knock but, according to this report, sustained another setback late on in the tie having appeared as a second-half sub. Luiz has been a popular signing off the back of his role in the Chelsea midfield and the recent double Gameweek. However, those still holding the Brazilian will now wait anxiously on Rafa Benitez’s press conference later today.