Laurent Koscielny is fit for Arsenal’s vital Champions League clash with Bayern, though Kieran Gibbs is ruled out. Spurs appeal Younes Kaboul’s weekend dismissal, Michu is back in training ahead of Swansea’s game against West Brom, Fernando Torres could be sidelined for a fortnight, whilst Fabricio Coloccini is poised to return for Newcastle’s trip to Fulham this weekend:
Koscielny Back for Bayern Showdown
Arsenal were handed an injury boost yesterday evening after the influential centre-half was passed fit to face Bayern Munich in tonight’s Champions League clash. Kieran Gibbs is ruled out with the ankle problem that forced him off in Saturday’s FA Cup win over Everton, though Arsene Wenger reckons the left-back “has a chance” of returning for Sunday’s derby with Spurs.
The Scout Says: Whilst the update on Koscielny may be good news for the Gunners, many of his 10% Fantasy Premier League (FPL) owners are already looking to offload in light of Arsenal’s tough upcoming schedule. Wenger’s side have managed just two clean sheets in the last six and, whilst they have a home clash against Swansea as part of double Gameweek 31, their upcoming fixtures – Spurs, Chelsea, City and Everton in the next four, followed immediately by a blank Gameweek 34 – could barely be more off-putting. Certainly, the schedule does take a turn for the better in Gameweek 35 but there are plenty more enticing options around to deter investment in Wenger’s main men for the time being.
Michu Close to Swansea Comeback
The midfielder is closing in on a return to action after returning to training during the recent break in Swansea’s domestic schedule. Club physio Richard Buchanan rolled out an update yesterday, with reports in the local press suggesting Michu may even earn game time in Saturday’s crucial home encounter with West Brom:
“Michu joined the squad for training on Friday and Saturday. He will do gym and pool work for the next two days as part of his graded return, before joining the group again for training on Wednesday. He has had a good response since having the injection a fortnight ago. We have still got to manage his return carefully, but he is champing at the bit to play as soon as possible.”
The Scout Says: Fantasy managers will understandably be wary over this news after the Spaniard broke down just two games into a return from injury earlier in the season. With knee and ankle problems hampering his performances, Michu notched twice in the first 10 Gameweeks before spending time on the sidelines – his comeback in early December proved all too brief and has seen him miss Swansea’s last 12 league matches after undergoing surgery. If he can prove his fitness, though, the remaining schedule bodes well. Granted, back-to-back trips to Everton and Arsenal in Gameweek 31 are hardly enticing but with Norwich, Hull, Newcastle and Villa in the subsequent five, Garry Monk’s side certainly have the fixtures to boost their survival bid.
Spurs Appeal Kaboul Dismissal
Tottenham have lodged an appeal with the FA over the Frenchman’s dismissal in Saturday’s loss at Chelsea, with Kaboul currently facing a one-match ban for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
The Scout Says: Tim Sherwood has real worries in the centre-half position as a weekend derby clash against Arsenal edges nearer. Vlad Chiriches is still some way off returning from a back injury, whilst the Spurs boss admitted it will need “a miracle” for skipper Michael Dawson to recover in time for Thursday’s Europa League clash against Benfica, after he limped out of the Stamford Bridge mauling with a hamstring injury. At present, then, only Jan Vertonghen is 100% available for the Gunners showdown, though it’s noticebale that Michael Oliver, the referee who dismissed Kaboul, hasn’t been handed a Premier League fixture this weekend – perhaps an indication that the ban will be overturned.
Torres Faces Groin Scans
Jose Mourinho confirmed the Spaniard is set for scans on the groin problem that forced him out of the weekend clash with Tottenham. Originally named in the XI, Torres picked up the injury during the warm-up and, amid fears he could be sidelined for a couple of weeks, the Chelsea manager went on to praise his other forwards:
“Ba is very important. I proved earlier in the season that I was right to have three strikers because when one is injured you need the other two. It’s one of the best decisions we made to keep three strikers. It’s good for him that he scored. They’re not the winning goals but they’re goals and they give confidence. He played for 90 minutes for his national team midweek and he came back and scored two, so that’s good. In the second half Eto’o was brilliant. Vertonghen’s mistake was only a mistake because Eto’o was there. He’s not super-fast like he was 10 years ago, so he needs to be close to the goal, he needs his feet in the box and he’s very intelligent in the way he moves.”
The Scout Says: Eto’o’s goal and assist against Spurs, allied with a couple of bonus points, helped the Cameroon international to a third double-figure points-haul in his last five home matches. In spite of his recent fine form at the Bridge, Eto’o has failed to produce a single goal or assist on the road all season, and with Mourinho’s admitting last week he feels the forward is unsuited to playing away from home, Ba could well be handed the chance to lead the line against Villa this weekend. Either way, the form of Eden Hazard, in addition to the outstanding value on offer at the back for the Blues, is more than enough to ensure Fantasy managers will steer clear of Chelsea’s forwards as legitimate options.
Coloccini In the Mix for Magpies
Reports in the local press indicate that the Argentine has returned to Tyneside and is back in training ahead of a weekend trip to Fulham. Coloccini was given time off from the previous Gameweek due to a family bereavement – providing he proves his match sharpness, he will take his place in Alan Pardew’s back-four once again at Craven Cottage.
The Scout Says: Forced off with a back injury on New Year’s Day, Coloccini’s subsequent six-match spell on the sidelines saw the Magpies suffer some heavy defeats, with Sunderland, Chelsea and Spurs all putting three or more past the Tyneside team. The Argentine’s return to the starting XI in Gameweek 27 had an immediate impact and helped Pardew’s side to a 1-0 win over Villa before he was handed time off for personal reasons. Now down to just 4.8 in FPL, Coloccini has two home fixtures against Palace and Everton in double Gameweek 31 to follow the Fulham clash and, with Stoke and Swansea also on his agenda over the next six, may well appeal to those on the search for a budget-friendly backline option.
