Scout Scribbles – Sturridge Close to Reds Return

Daniel Sturridge may be set to return for Liverpool. Sergio Aguero is back in training for City. Yohan Cabaye is a major doubt for Newcastle’s clash with City. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returns to full training for Arsenal. John O’Shea is back for Sunderland’s cup clash against United this evening, whilst West Ham snap up Roger Johnson on loan from Wolves.

Sturridge On Verge of Comeback

Reports in the Mail suggest the Liverpool forward could be set to return to action this weekend. Sturridge played “an intensive outdoor session at the club’s training ground yesterday and, providing he feels no after effects, is expected to return to full training today as the Reds prepare for a trip to the Britannia. Elsewhere for the Merseysiders, Brendan Rodgers is awaiting scan results on the calf complaint that forced Daniel Agger off towards the end of the FA Cup win over Oldham on Sunday.

The Scout Says: Despite a superb start to the season, Sturridge’s displays have almost been overlooked due to the extraordinary performances of strike partner Luis Suarez. The England international racked up nine goals and a pair of assists from just 12 appearances before sustaining an ankle injury in training back in late November, which was expected to keep him sidelined until the end of this month. Now down to 9.1 in FPL, his potential comeback certainly gives Fantasy managers food for thought in the current winter wildcard window – given Suarez’ level of performance, though, it’s highly unlikely many will be prepared to part company with th Uruguayan, meaning Sturridge’s acquisition would result in doubling up on Liverpool’s frontline. Bearing in mind Sturridge has averaged 6.4 ppg, though, and has Stoke, Villa and West Brom in the next four, it’s a tactic many may be willing to chance if he’s passed fit in time….With Mamadou Sakho currently injured, Rodgers will be desperate for Agger to be given the all-clear ahead of the Stoke clash. The Dane has only just returned to the XI and started the last two league matches, racking up a 15-point haul against Hull last time around. Any potential absence could hand Kolo Toure (4.5) a chance alongside Martin Skrtel, though, with two clean sheets in the last nine Gameweeks, Rodgers’ side have done little to justify defensive investment.

Aguero Returns to Training

Reports suggest the City forward has now returned to full training following his recovery from a calf complaint. Manuel Pellegrini still remains somewhat cautious with a comeback date, however, going on to say:

“Sergio is working normally but I think he has at least one or two weeks more to go, probably two.”

The Scout Says: Pellegrini’s statement offers hope to Fantasy managers eyeing up Aguero with their winter wildcards. Thanks to their upcoming cup duties, City still have six matches in all competitions between now and the end of January – it may well be that the Chilean ensures Aguero is rested for cup games against the likes of Blackburn and West Ham. Providing he remains on course, then, a Gameweek 22 comeback clash against Cardiff at the Etihad on January 18 doesn’t look beyond the realms of possibility – such a scenario would hand us a real armband dilemma, with Arsenal hosting Fulham and Liverpool welcoming Villa to Anfield in the same weekend.

Cabaye a Weekend Worry for Magpies

Alan Pardew delivered some mixed news on the injury front ahead of Newcastle’s home clash against City this weekend. The Magpies boss has conceded Yohan Cabaye is still a real doubt with the Achilles problem that forced him to miss the FA Cup clash with Cardiff, though he expects Tim Krul to recover from a shoulder problem in time for the visit of Manuel Pellegrini’s men:

“We’ll have to wait and see. The diagnosis on Yohan is that he isn’t going to train until Friday, so we’ll have to wait and see on him. I’m more hopeful about Tim. Really and truly, it was only those two.”

The Scout Says: Cabaye’s loss would be a real blow for the numerous Fantasy managers who already have the likes of Theo Walcott in their five-man midfields. With a goal or assist nine of his 17 appearances so far, the Frenchman has been one of the most consistent midfielders around and has subsequently earned more than 300,000 new owners in the last three Gameweeks. An ownership of 17% is the seventh highest midfielder in the FPL game and may persuade many to hit that wildcard button as the problems continue to snowball – Pardew’s Friday press conference will be crucial to many a Fantasy plan.

Oxlade-Chamberlain Boost for Gunners

Whilst Arsenal reel from the knee problem that has ruled Theo Walcott out for the rest of the season, the Telegraph claim Arsene Wenger has received some good news on the injury front. Scans on Thomas Vermaelen’s knee injury are believed to be positive, Mikel Arteta has recovered from the knock that forced him off against Spurs, whilst Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is believed to be back in full training after finally recovering from a knee injury.

The Scout Says: The Oxlade-Chamberlain news will be the main point of interest for Fantasy managers here. The youngster played just 45 minutes of the season opener against Villa before sustaining the problem but his return to the fold could help solve the Gunners’ right flank area in light of Walcott’s absence. Certainly, it seems unlikely Arsene Wenger will throw Oxlade-Chamberlain (priced at 6.8 in FPL) immediately into the starting XI after such a long spell on the sidelines but once he’s proved his fitness with a couple sub appearances, he may well be set to stake a claim for a regular role as the Gunners look to take advantage of a kind upcoming schedule.

Defensive Boost for Poyet

Sunderland will welcome back John O’Shea from a shoulder problem ahead of tonight’s Captial One Cup clash with United, Gus Poyet has confirmed. The Black Cats boss has also revealed loan signing Marcos Alonso is finally available for selection, with the paperwork on his move from Italian outfit Fiorentina now complete.

The Scout Says: This evening’s clash will hopefully hand Fantasy managers a heads-up on Poyet’s first-choice back-four for the remainder of the season. O’Shea can be expected to instantly return alongside Wes Brown at the heart of the Black Cats’ backline, whilst Alonso will be looking to cement the left-back berth, allowing Phil Bardsley to shift over to the opposite side of defence. Poyet clearly remains unconvinced by Andrea Dossena and has started the Italian three times in the last 10 Gameweeks, mainly fielding Bardsley and Andrej Celustka on the left and right respectively. With a trio of clean sheets and just three goals conceded in the last five, Sunderland’s defensive assets are firmly on Fantasy radars, with Bardsley’s eye for goal making him the likeliest source of returns ahead of a trip to Fulham and three home fixtures (SOU, STO, HUL) in the next five.

Laudrup Praise for Bony Displays

The Swansea manager took time to laud another impressive performance from record signing Wilfried Bony on Sunday. The Ivorian’s winner in the FA Cup clash at United was his third strike since the turn of the year, having also bagged a brace against City on New Year’s Day.

“It was a great goal. It reminded me of one of the goals he scored in the Europa League in August – it was a great finish. We had three or four other great chances at Manchester United, especially in the last 25 minutes. We only had 15 minutes in the first half where we had to suffer a bit, and you always need a bit of luck in those periods.”

The Scout Says: After a slow settling-in period, Bony finally seems to be finding his feet as the Swans’ lone forward. Having recovered from a hamstring injury last month, he was used sparingly over the busy festive period and has started only three of the last five as Laudrup has looked to protect his fitness for fear of another setback. With six goals and an assist in just 901 minutes in the league, Bony’s goal-per-minute ratio remains relatively impressive and with Michu still sidelined through an ankle injury, the Ivorian’s threat in the box looks crucial for the Swans. Ironically, he faces another trip to United this weekend and with a home clash against Spurs preceding a kind run of fixtures, he could be set to kick on during the latter part of the season in a situation similar to that of Christian Benteke at Villa in 2012/13, offering a mid-price forward option at just 7.3.

Hammers Pick Up Johnson

Sam Allardyce moved to bolster his defensive options yesterday evening by acquiring Wolves centre-half Roger Johnson on loan for the remainder of the season.

The Scout Says: With Winston Reid, James Collins and James Tomkins still sidelined through injury, Sam Allardyce has been in desperate need for reinforcements and has been forced to field Alou Diarra in the heart of the back-four in recent matches. As a result, the Hammers have conceded at least twice in each of their last four league matches, while Allardyce’s decision to rotate for the FA Cup failed miserably against Forest at the weekend, with his side falling to a 5-0 defeat. If the injuries fail to clear in time, Johnson could arrive on Fantasy radars ahead of a schedule which at least offers hope of a turnaround in fortunes, with Cardiff, Newcastle, Swansea, Villa and Norwich in the next six.