Scout Scribbles – Johnson Sidelined for Reds

Glen Johnson is ruled out “indefinitely” for Liverpool, though Jon Flanagan is back in contention. Pablo Osvaldo is suspended by Southampton for an alleged training ground altercation. Pablo Hernandez could be back for Swansea this weekend, whilst a behind-closed-doors friendly between Tottenham and West Ham sees a number of players return from injury:

Johnson Setback for Liverpool

The full-back has been ruled out until further notice by Brendan Rodgers yesterday. Speaking at his usual Thursday afternoon press conference, the Reds boss – who also confirmed Jon Flanagan is available for selection and Lucas is out for two months – went on to explain:

“Glen has played a lot of the season having been injured and really put himself out for the team, but unfortunately he’s struggled a lot with a number of injuries… He’s had a real bad ankle for a period of time, and just one or two other issues that haven’t allowed him to be 100 per cent. I think everyone has seen over many years the speed, fluency and how good he’s been, but for part of this season he’s been restricted and that’s obviously been difficult for him. I just think it’s now at that point where we need to get him right. We’ll just need to assess that and see how quickly he comes through that. The timeline he’ll be out will be indefinitely, really.”

The Scout Says: Rodgers’ update may go some way to explaining Johnson’s lack of form this season. The defender has produced a single assist so far, compared to a goal and five assists last time around, and has been a bitter disappointment to Fantasy managers in Rodgers’ second year in charge. Essentially, Liverpool now have three of their first-choice back-four injured as Johnson joins Jose Enrique and Daniel Agger on the sidelines, and whilst this allows Flanagan (4.3) or Martin Kelly (4.1) to stake a claim for the right-back berth, faith in a backline which has three clean sheets to its name in the last 19 Gameweeks could barely be lower ahead of showdowns with Everton and Arsenal in the next three.

Osvaldo Suspended by Saints

Southampton have suspended their record signing for the next two weeks following an incident at the club’s training ground. The Saints were reluctant to divulge further details, though the Press Association reports he was disciplined after headbutting and punching team-mate Jose Fonte during training on Wednesday.

The Scout Says: Osvaldo rolled up to St Mary’s having scored 16 goals for Roma in Serie A last season but it’s something of an understatement to say he’s been a disappointment for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. Having not long returned from a three-match suspension, he is now set to miss this weekend’s FA Cup clash against Yeovil as well as league games against Arsenal and Fulham. His absence bodes well for Jay Rodriguez’ chances of featuring through the middle once again, as the 6.3 priced forward looks to continue the form which has harvested nine goals and 97 Fantasy Premier League points, making him the best value striker in the game thus far.

Hernandez Boost for Swans

The Swansea winger is optimistic of recovering from a hamstring injury in time for this weekend’s FA Cup clash against Birmingham. In an injury-update article which also revealed Jonjo Shelvey is a week away from returning and Jonathan de Guzman and Nathan Dyer are back in training, Hernandez discussed his progress with the club’s official website:

“Hopefully this is the end of injuries for me, this. I have to be patient and make a 100 per cent recovery before I play because I have had a few injuries this season, which is very frustrating for me. But I have felt good in training. I have been in with the physios having treatment and working hard in the gym and on the training pitch. So this weekend is possible. I will see how it goes in training on Friday, and then I will speak with the gaffer.”

The Scout Says: The news arrives at a time when the schedule smiles kindly upon the Welsh club and may bring their assets back into our consideration. Laudrup’s side welcome Fulham, Cardiff and Palace to the Liberty over the next six and also travel to West Ham and Stoke, affording them the chance of climbing up the table to safety. With the options on the flanks set to increase, then, the 4.2-priced Alex Pozuelo may struggle to retain his first-team berth, having now started each of the last two league games due to the injury situation.

Quartet Back in Action for Tottenham

Tim Sherwood was handed a major boost yesterday after four of his injured players returned to action in a behind-closed-doors friendly against West Ham. Sandro played the first hour of the 3-0 win, whilst Jan Vertonghen, Younes Kaboul and Paulinho all featured for the first 50 minutes, with the latter amongst the scorers. Ahead of next week’s clash against City, the Spurs boss went on to say:

“It is great news to see so many lads returning from injury at such a crucial time. They have come though okay and it’s good to see them get some minutes under their belts. There is nothing like playing. With players of this quality coming back to fitness it reinforces the fact that we have strength and depth in the squad. And players with real quality and ability.”

The Scout Says: As the injuries finally begin to ease, Fantasy managers can expect to get a better angle on Sherwood’s preferred options. At the back, Vertonghen is favourite to slot into central defence, leaving Kaboul to battle it out with Michael Dawson and Vlad Chiriches for the remaining role, whilst Paulinho and Sandro add to the multitude of options in central midfield. Sherwood has promoted young Nabil Bentaleb to the XI in the last couple of matches but it remains to be seen if he can nail down a regular role – the new man in charge seems to prefer just two central midfielders, whether in a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, suggesting the competition for places is set to intensify.

Hammers Injuries Ease

The West Ham treatment room is also beginning to empty ahead of next week’s trip to Chelsea. Guy Demel and Ricardo Vaz Te both played 60 minutes apiece in the Tottenham defeat, with Hammers first-team coach Ian Hendon discussing their involvement after the game with the club’s official website:

“Guy and Vaz got an important hour under their belts on Thursday. That’s what the game was arranged for. The main thing was that they came through unscathed. We’ve got a 16-game season and it’s going to be massive to have extra bodies back. The more we have fit and ready to go the easier it’ll be. February is going to be a massive month with the games against teams in and around us.”

The Scout Says: Whilst Vaz Te is by no means certain to nail down a regular role, Demel has played the vast majority of games as Sam Allardyce’s preferred right-back. As mentioned in yesterday’s Scribbles, with Winston Reid also closing in on a return, the Hammers can look to the remaining schedule with a little more optimism. At 4.5, Demel’s chances of clean sheet returns are likely to be boosted by the Kiwi’s presence in the back-four, then, whilst Allardyce’s side are set for a run that reads (SWA, avl, NOR, SOU, eve, HUL, sto) from Gameweek 24 onwards.