Scout Scribbles – Cesc Set for Spain Assessment

Cesc Fabregas will be looked over by the Spain doctors amid fears he could be sidelined with a groin problem. Sam Allardyce is keen to be cautious with Andy Carroll, Edin Dzeko is ruled out for Bosnia with a hamstring injury, Radamel Falcao plays down injury fears, whilst West Brom are sweating over the fitness of Sebastien Pocognoli for their Gameweek 12 trip to Chelsea.

Cesc to be Assessed by Spain

The Chelsea midfielder is set to be examined by the Spain medical staff after Jose Mourinho indicated he’d played with a groin injury against Liverpool on Saturday. Despite reports suggesting he could be out for three weeks, Fabregas is still expected to link up with his national team ahead of matches with Belarus and Germany, with the Spain team doctor Oscar Celada, explaining:

“We will assess him in the coming hours to see if he can form part of the squad. We know Cesc, I’ve known him since he was 16 years old, I know his professionalism and commitment to the national team, but we are still waiting to assess him.”

Spain boss Vicente del Bosque also took time to discuss the midfielder’s situation:

“The most prudent thing is that he sees the Spanish national team medical staff. It’s not a lack of confidence in the medical staff at his club, but after playing 95 minutes this weekend we would like to see him and examine him.”

The Scout Says: Having produced points in eight of the opening 11 Gameweeks, Fabregas’ consistency has ensured he is the most popular midfielder in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game by some distance, with an ownership just shy of 54%. Bearing in mind that Mourinho and Del Bosque disagreed on Diego Costa’s injuries, many are likely to believe this is just more of the Chelsea manager’s mind games, though there’s no doubt his possible absence would have a major knock-on effect across the Fantasy games. Whilst the fixtures fall kindly for the Blues, Fabregas also has the threat of suspension hanging over him – one more booking and he earns a single-match ban. With Eden Hazard at 10.0 to the Spaniard’s 9.8, though, and Oscar earning three goals and seven bonus points in the last six, there are certainly strong alternatives to the Spain international for those eyeing up a route into Mourinho’s midfield.

Allardyce Urges Caution on Carroll Fitness

The Hammers boss admitted his fit-again forward is far from match sharp after another extended period on the sidelines. Carroll was afforded a couple of minutes off the bench against Villa and, post-match, Allardyce was quick to play down any expectations.

“He’s still five or six games away from being fully fit. It’s pre-season for him really, so we’ll gradually increase his pitch time and see how he copes and how quickly he recovers. We need to be careful that we don’t rush him back too quickly because we don’t want to risk him getting injured again. Thankfully our squad is working well at the moment and that gives me the freedom to slowly work him back into the side. We’ll take each week as it comes and go by a game by game basis. We also have Cole fit and looking good. Valencia and Sakho are looking better and better as a partnership the more they play together.”

The Scout Says: As Allardyce indicates, the current form of Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia will ensure there’s no need to rush Carroll back into the first-team frame. The summer signings have been instrumental to West Ham’s ascent to fourth – Sakho has served up five goals and a pair of assists in just seven starts for the Hammers, whilst Valencia’s three goals and trio of assists in eight appearances in the first XI suggest that Carroll could well be surplus to requirements, even when fully fit and available. Certainly, they won’t be worried over their starting roles any time soon after their manager’s words, as the investment gathers pace ahead of (NEW, wba, SWA, sun, LEI) in the next six. Granted, Allardyce admitted last week that his increased options could be handy during the festive period to deal with fatigue but, as evidenced by Carroll’s brief cameo against Villa, his impact may be no more than a “Plan B” for the former Bolton boss late on in matches against stubborn rearguards – given the progress the Hammers have made with a new attack-minded approach, bringing back Carroll and lumping balls into the box would surely be a step in the wrong direction.

Dzeko Withdraws from Bosnia Duties

Reports coming out of Bosnia suggest the City striker could be set for three weeks on the sidelines after his sub appearance against QPR lasted just four minutes before he was forced off with a hamstring injury. Dzeko’s national doctor, Reuf Karabeg, went on to say:

“It’s a very serious injury and requires the kind of treatment whose time-frame unfortunately rules out a quick return.”

The Scout Says: Three back-to-back starts in Gameweek 6-8, harvesting a double against Hull, had suggested Dzeko had forced his way back into Manuel Pellegrini’s plans. Since then, though, the Bosnian has managed a single start in four as the City boss alternates between 4-4-2 and 4-4-1-1, with Sergio Aguero the only constant up front. Whilst the likes of Chelsea arguably offer us three valid midfield options along with Diego Costa, Aguero’s heroics leave him as the only real option at the Etihad right now, as Dzeko struggles to regain the form that served up 16 goals and seven assists only last season.

Falcao Refutes Injury Claims

United’s on-loan forward took to twitter yesterday to deny reports that his previous knee injury required ice treatment after every training session. The Colombian responded by saying:

“One fool speculates. A few others lacking objectivity respond and millions believe lies. It is disastrous what a few fools can do.”

The Scout Says: Currently sidelined with a calf complaint, Falcao has failed to feature since Gameweek 8, when he was afforded a 19-minute sub appearance away to West Brom. Frustratingly for Fantasy managers, he had earned returns in all three of his starts for the Red Devils but, as Louis van Gaal pointed out last Friday, a recent shift to a lone forward formation means Falcao’s starting place is far from guaranteed, even when fully fit. With Wayne Rooney dropping deep upon his return to action and Robin van Persie delivering three goals for his 12.4 price tag, United’s forwards are offering little appeal right now. Angel Di Maria is far and away the most popular Fantasy performer – currently sitting in 36% of FPL sides – but the Argentine’s returns have suffered since a change of formation; he served up three goals and as many assists in five matches with a front two but has managed just two assists since Van Gaal opted for one up front.

Irvine Optimistic on Pocognoli

The West Brom boss is hopeful his left-back will be available for the upcoming trip to Chelsea in under a fortnight’s time. Pocognoli was withdrawn at the break against Newcastle last weekend after sustaining a hamstring problem and Irvine took time out yesterday to roll out a brief update on the club’s official website:

“It is not a major problem. Sebastien should recover from it quite quickly. The international break allows him an opportunity to do so.”

The Scout Says: Pocognoli has started all but one of the opening 11 Gameweeks since moving to the Hawthorns, in what has become an increasingly settled defence under Irvine. The availability of Joleon Lescott has helped the Baggies deliver three clean sheets in the last seven Gameweeks, though despite a security of starts, that duo have been overlooked due to the goal threat of Craig Dawson and Andre Wisdom’s budget appeal. A possible spell on the sidelines would likely see Wisdom shift to the left, with Cristian Gamboa fielded on the opposite flank, but with Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham in the next three, there’s little appeal to the Baggies backline until the schedule smiles a little kinder around Gameweek 15.