The Treatment Table – Gameweek 2

Our Monday afternoon regular is rolled out once again, as we scour the Premier League treatment rooms to assess the players who picked up injuries over the weekend action.

Injuries

Arsenal
Olivier Giroud picked up an ankle problem towards the end of Saturday’s draw at Everton. Post-match, Arsene Wenger was a little pessimistic with his initial prognosis:

“It’s a stretched ankle. At the moment it doesn’t look too good.”

Reports today suggest that, although Giroud told the French media he hoped to be fit for the midweek Champions League clash with Besiktas, Arsenal have some concerns over his availability.

Aston Villa
Aly Cissokho was subbed off towards the end of Saturday lunchtime’s goalless draw due to injury, the club’s official website has confirmed.

Chelsea
Withdrawn just after the hour mark of the weekend home win over Leicester, Andre Schurrle took to twitter to proclaim:

“Hope my leg is getting better the next days.”

Crystal Palace
Joe Ledley was a late withdrawal from the side that lost to West Ham on Saturday after picking up a groin problem during the warm-up.

Everton
Steven Pienaar was forced off due to his groin early on in the Toffees’ home draw with Arsenal. Post-match, Roberto Martinez revealed Romelu Lukaku had been hampered by a toe problem during the match:

“Romelu has been struggling with a knock on his toe and he did incredibly well to be available today. The fans need to know and it is an example of our football Club that he did everything to be available for the game to help the players. To last over 70 minutes was an incredible gesture and he was terrific for Naismith’s goal – I couldn’t be prouder of his attitude and the way he represented our Club today.”

Leicester
Midfielder Dean Hammond was withdrawn during the loss at Chelsea with leg cramp, Nigel Pearson has confirmed.

Manchester United
Louis van Gaal’s injury worries at the back show little sign of abating. Chris Smalling became the latest defender to make his way onto the treatment table after limping out of the 1-1 draw at Sunderland due to a groin problem.

QPR
Charlie Austin missed Sunday’s hammering at White Hart Lane due to a hamstring injury.

Stoke
Glenn Whelan was forced off during yesterday’s draw at Hull due to an ankle problem, allowing Bojan Krkic to take his place off the bench.

Sunderland
The Black Cats wide man Adam Johnson missed yesterday’s home encounter with United due to illness.

West Brom
New left-back Sebastien Pocognoli and Victor Anichebe were both replaced in the weekend draw at Southampton after picking up injuries, confirm the club’s official website.

West Ham
Kevin Nolan missed the trip to Palace due to a shoulder injury, according to the Hammers’ twitter feed. Sam Allardyce has since conceded:

“It could be six weeks and it’s a massive blow to him and us. We’ve got five out. Those missing play a big part in our squad and our team.”

Suspensions

Hull’s James Chester disappointed the 128,000 FPL managers who drafted him in last week with a red card and a haul of minus two points at home to Stoke. The centre-half sits out the weekend trip to Villa but will be available for the Gameweek 4 home encounter against West Ham.