Maynor Figueroa is ruled out of Wigan’s remaining four matches due to a groin injury sustained against Spurs on Saturday. Rafa Benitez looks set to field a strong XI for Chelsea’s clash with FC Basel this evening. Steve Clarke dismisses notions West Brom have taken it easy in recent weeks and Phil Jones is determined to cut out the rash challenges in order to remain injury-free:
Roberto Martinez gave Fantasy managers an early heads-up regarding Wigan’s injury situation earlier this morning. The Latics boss confirmed Maynor Figueroa will require an operation on the groin problem that saw him stretchered off against Tottenham last weekend. The Honduran will not only miss the upcoming double Gameweek but is also sidelined for the rest of the season – dire news for Martinez in his attempt to beat the drop. Elsewhere at the back, the Wigan boss revealed Antolin Alcaraz is “not too far away”, while Roman Golobart is close to a comeback. The news is set to bolster Gary Caldwell’s game time over the last few fixtures. Yesterday, the Wigan skipper spoke of his determination to steer the Latics to safety.
“All you can do when you’re out of the team is keep working hard and being ready for when the opportunity arises again. Everyone has to be ready for when the gaffer decides it’s right to go in, and that’s definitely the case with me. We’re looking at every game between now and the end of the season as one we have to win, and we believe we can do that. We’ve been down there and managed to get out of it for the last few years, and we’re bracing ourselves for it going all the way again. It’s in our hands, and we have to have a real belief that we can still get out of it.”
With just four games remaining, Martinez’s side are five points adrift of safety with a game in hand and after a spell on the sidelines, their captain looks set to be key for the run in. After this morning’s injury update, Martinez’s options are stretched at the back and it’s likely Caldwell will join Paul Scharner and Emmerson Boyce in the back-three for the upcoming double at least, as Wigan square up to West Brom and Swansea. If Martinez moves Boyce to the back-three, 3.8 priced defender Ronnie Stam is the likeliest replacement on the right of the midfield four.
Rafa Benitez has hinted he is set to play a full strength side for the second leg of Chelsea’s Europa League semi-final with FC Basel this evening. The Blues welcome the Swiss side to Stamford Bridge on the back of last week’s 2-1 and while Ashley Cole is unavailable through suspension, the likes of David Luiz, John Obi Mikel, Ramires and Ryan Bertrand are all just one yellow card away from missing next month’s final, should the London outfit progress:
“The main thing is to win and qualify for the final. We will do it with the best team possible for this game. It doesn’t matter how many bookings a player has so far.”
With a double Gameweek 36 just around the corner, Benitez’s selection this evening will be intriguing. Juan Mata and Oscar were both late subs in the first leg but may be set to start as Benitez attempts to finish his tenure with some silverware before departing the club at the end of the season. With four games left in the league, Chelsea’s chances of a third place finish remains in their own hands but with clashes against United and Spurs next week, it may well be that the likes of Mata and Eden Hazard are used cautiously ahead of Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford.
Steve Clarke has dismissed suggestions his side have taken their foot off the pedal after clinching their top-flight survival.
“I don’t think anyone can accuse us of coasting – you could see the way they’ve played, the way they’ve chased matches, the effort they’ve shown. I’m aiming to finish higher. Whether we can catch Liverpool I don’t know but finishing in the top eight is a good achievement.”
Prior to last weekend’s trip to Southampton, West Brom had taken just two points from four games but the manner in which they dismantled the Saints has perhaps persuaded Fantasy managers to turn to the Baggies main assets ahead of their double Gameweek. having played a part in eight of his side’s last 10 goals, Romelu Lukaku has been acquired by more than double any other forward so far this week – an indication of the show of faith their St Mary’s rout seems to have inspired.
United’s Phil Jones has promised to rein in some of his challenges in future after spending much of the season on the sidelines with injury. Jones missed the recent Champions League second leg clash with Real Madrid after overextending himself in a challenge with Reading’s Jobi McAnuff and admitted the disappointment has forced him to reassess his game:
“It was silly tackle, I probably should have looked after myself a bit more. I will learn from it as an experienced head would probably not have done that. But I will learn from that. It is in me [playing with great enthusiasm]. I like making tackles. I like defending. Injuries are going to occur in football so I’ve probably just been unfortunate, especially at the start of the season. I was gutted [to miss the Madrid tie]. I tried everything to make the game. I was on the treatment table, having massages, in the pool and in the gym. But it was just too soon for me and I missed it.”
The former Blackburn man has made a belated case for our consideration over the run in. Jones has started each of the last five Gameweeks, picking up a couple of clean sheets and a pair of assists, and his versatility has been key for the Red Devils in recent matches – Sir Alex Ferguson has fielded him at centre-half, right-back and central midfield. With the double Gameweek 36 on the horizon, United’s assets have fallen off the radar but if Jones can remain injury-free next term, he’s sure to pick up in popularity across the Fantasy games – given that Ferguson stated last week he has the potential to be one of the club’s best ever players, the Red Devils boss clearly has a high opinion of the 21-year-old.
