Scout Scribbles – Remy Boost For Redknapp

Loic Remy is in the frame for a shock return at Swansea. Demba Ba dons a mask to be in contention for Chelsea’s clash with Wigan tomorrow. Vincent Kompany is close to City comeback. Hatem Ben Arfa remains on track for a Toon return and Younes Kaboul is back in training to crowd Tottenham’s defensive options…

Harry Redknapp has revealed that Loic Remy could be back in the frame for QPR’s visit to the Liberty Stadium tomorrow after making good progress with his groin injury. The French international, who scored on his R’s debut at West Ham, missed the 0-0 draw with Norwich last weekend after tweaking his groin in training. The early prognosis from the Rangers camp indicated a tear, which was later optimistically reduced to a strain. Now, however, Remy’s condition seems to have taken a dramatic turn for the better…

“He trained this morning, he’s close…He’s close to being fit for Saturday…But I don’t want to rush him in case he breaks down.”

Redknapp had started the Norwich game with Jamie Mackie as his only fit recognised striker, as Bobby Zamora continues to edge his way back to fitness following a long lay-off. It’s perhaps unlikely Redknapp will gamble on Remy for the Swans visit – this morning he was somewhat cautious and admitted he won’t take any chances in case of a possible tear; the smart money would perhaps be on a bench role, then.

Demba Ba is another striker who could yet make an appearance this weekend. Chelsea’s Senegal start suffered a facial injury in the 3-2 defeat to Newcastle last weekend but was pictured in full training yesterday, sporting a protective mask. Ba had the mask fitted in Italy to protect the broken nose suffered as a result of the clash with Fabricio Coloccini and is now seemingly in the frame for the clash with Wigan. Ba is ineligible to play in Europe so will be ruled out of Chelsea’s Europa League tie with Sparta on Thursday; with that in mind, he could well have been penciled in to feature against the Latics ahead of Fernando Torres. Rafa Benitez will hold his usual press conference at lunchtime today, in which he will surely comment on Ba’s availability.

Newcastle are a team in bloom after back-to-back victories, inspired by the arrival of Moussa Sissoko. Alan Pardew’s options are all set to be boosted further by the end of the month with news that Hatem Ben Arfa remains on schedule for a return. Reports have confirmed that Ben Arfa has had his comeback somewhat delayed by illness, having been struck down by a virus, however, he is still in line for a return by Febuary 24 – for the visit to Southampton, according to Pardew…

“Hatem is genuinely sick and has missed four or five days’ work on the training ground. He has a good chance of being available for Southampton, but is doubtful for the two European games. We initially thought he would be involved in those.”

Pardew went on to talk up the qualities that the Frenchman grants the Newcastle squad…

“Ben Arfa gives us something we don’t otherwise have in the squad. You cannot get away from that. He can ghost past people as if they are not there, as he has shown in certain situations, and his workrate has improved dramatically so that he has become a major function for us. So I am really looking forward to seeing him back.”

His return will be of obvious interest to Fantasy managers, not least those who recently purchased Sissoko off the back of his recent returns. There’s little doubt that Pardew will look to introduce Ben Arfa to his starting XI and it will be interesting to see if that has any impact on Sissoko’s role in the side.

Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany is another player who could yet make a return to action this weekend, ahead of schedule. The Belgian international was thought to be sidelined for at least another week having suffered a calf injury in the recent FA Cup win at Stoke but, according to assistant boss, David Platt, has made good progress with the injury…

“The injury problems aren’t as bad now…There is nothing definite to say Vinny will make it for Southampton, but he has a chance.”

Kompany’s return to contention would provide a timely boost for Roberto Mancini, but also hand him an interesting selection headache. The City boss has turned to Joleon Lescott to cover for Kompany’s absence in recent matches, with Matija Nastasic making a return to the side following illness against Liverpool last weekend. The Serb was sacrificed before the hour mark against Brendan Rodgers’ side and, with Kompany’s return, could now find himself on the bench should Mancini opt to keep faith with Lescott.

Younes Kaboul is another defender on the comeback trial. News from the Tottenham camp confirmed that the Frenchman is nearing a return having been sidelined for six months with a knee injury. Prior to the setback, Kabuol had established himself in Tottenham’s defence and a return to contention would clearly pose a further selection problem for Andre Villas-Boas within his back four. The Tottenham boss estimated that Kaboul was still around three weeks from a return…

“He’s going to rejoin training hopefully next Monday for the first time – but it’s going to be his first training session since August so we have to be very careful. When might he play again? It’s very difficult. Obviously we have to consider that he has to catch up, but I think with the tremendous willingness that he has to come back to playing, hopefully within two to three weeks, but it’s very unsure.”

Michael Dawson has, just recently, appeared to have cemented a starting role in the centre of Tottemham’s defence, with William Gallas dropping to the bench and Jan Vertonghen partnering the club skipper. However, Kaboul’s return would muddy the waters further, casting real doubt over Dawson’s mid-term potential. Kaboul is currently available as a 5.0 defensive option in the Fantasy Premier League game, having started the season at 5.5.

Across North London, Arsene Wenger would love to have such rich defensive resources right now. This morning’s news brought confirmation that Arsenal will be without Thomas Vermaelen for their visit to Sunderland, with Laurent Koscielny also a doubt with a calf injury sustained on international duty with France. That could mean that the Gunners boss is forced to turn to Sebastien Squillaci or Ignasi Miquel to help fill the voide for the trip to the Stadium of Light. Alternatively, Francis Coquelin could find himself shifted to a defensive role – Wenger has confirmed that he is available following a recent hamstring problem.