The Treatment Table – Gameweek 8

Our Monday 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.

Arsenal
Jack Wilshere was forced off with a knee problem in the weekend draw with Hull. Post-match, though, Arsene Wenger allayed fears over the midfielder’s fitness by insisting he’ll be available to play in the midweek Champions League encounter against Benfica.

Aston Villa
Nathan Baker deputised for the injured Philippe Senderos away to Everton but was forced off after sustaining a “pretty bad” hamstring injury, Paul Lambert has confirmed. The Villa boss has since revealed he is optimistic that Senderos will return for next Monday’s trip to QPR.

Crystal Palace
The club’s official match report confirmed midfielder James McArthur was withdrawn just before the hour-mark after picking up a muscle injury in the narrow home loss to Chelsea.

Hull
Nikica Jelavic is set for scans later today after sustaining a twisted knee during the warm-up prior to the Tigers’ draw at Arsenal. Elsewhere, Steve Bruce has concerns at the back – the Hull boss revealed keeper Steve Harper was forced off with a damaged muscle in his arm, whilst Michael Dawson also had to be replaced at the Emirates after picking up a late injury. Speaking to the club’s official website, Bruce explained:

“Jelavic has unfortunately twisted his knee and he will have a scan on Monday. Dawson has an ankle problem and Harper looks as if he has ruptured his bicep, which is a horrible injury. We are probably going to have to recall Mark Oxley from his loan spell at Hibernian.”

Liverpool
Daniel Sturridge was missing yet again as the Reds squeezed past QPR at Loftus Road yesterday. After the 3-2 win, Brendan Rodgers rolled out an update on the injured striker, who has now failed to feature since Gameweek 3 for the Merseysiders:

“’He was returning from his thigh injury and medically everything was fine with that. Then, on his very first morning, he was jogging around the pitch in the warm-up – there was no action, no striking of a ball. He was jogging around the field and then in the actual warm-up, he felt his calf a little tight. The scan shows that there is a little bit of damage in his calf. So the medical team tell me it’s probably between two to four weeks, which is a huge disappointment for us. But we have enough players now.”

Manchester City
Frank Lampard was stretchered off within half an hour of City’s home win over Spurs with a muscle injury. Manuel Pellegrini confirmed after the match that the midfielder will miss tomorrow’s Champions League trip to CSKA Moscow. Pablo Zabaleta was omitted from the squad entirely but this was purely down to rest – he’s travelled to Russia and is expected to start tomorrow.

Newcastle
Paul Dummett was withdrawn after 72 minutes of the weekend win over Leicester after suffering a recurrence of the hamstring problem which forced him out of international duties. Mike Williamson missed out altogether due to injury, the Magpies have confirmed. Cheick Tiote was forced out of the Magpies’ starting XI after picking up a knock during the pre-match warm-up.

QPR
Rob Green missed yesterday’s clash with Liverpool due to illness, allowing Alex McCarthy his first start of the season. Elsewhere at the back, Nedum Onouha was replaced at the break against the Reds after picking up a hamstring injury. Sandro was also replaced midway through the second period after picking up an injury, according to the club’s official Twitter stream.

Stoke
Reports suggest Victor Moses was subbed off midway through the second  half of yesterday’s win over Swansea due to injury. Phil Bardsley picked up a knock late on but, with the home side having made all three substitutions, stayed on the field.

Swansea
Defender Ashley Richards missed the trip to Stoke due to injury.

West Ham
James Tomkins was sidelined for the weekend win at Burnley after picking up a thigh problem, whilst Mauro Zarate also missed the match due to a minor knee problem.