As always on a Monday afternoon, we scour the injury rooms up and down the country and assess those players who picked up problems over Saturday and Sunday’s matches. It’s fair to say the physios have had a busy weekend.
Arsenal
Wojciech Szczesny (rib) and Jack Wilshere (ankle) were both forced off in Saturday evening’s home loss to United. After the match, Arsene Wenger rolled out an update on the pair’s progress:
“Wojciech is not bad. Jack I don’t know how bad it is because he tried to stay on and couldn’t. It could be an ankle problem, I don’t know how bad it is.”
Burnley
The Clarets are set to assess the fitness of centre-half Michael Duff, who was forced off with just 15 minutes remaining of Saturday’s vital win at Stoke due to injury.
Crystal Palace
Adrian Mariappa missed yesterday’s clash with Liverpool after tweaking a knee in training on Saturday, the Palace website have revealed. Neil Warnock has further worries in defence after Damien Delaney was withdrawn during the first period of Sunday’s encounter due to injury.
Everton
Aiden McGeady missed the Toffees’ weekend win over West Ham due to illness but is expected to return in a couple of days. Roberto Martinez also confirmed Steven Naismith was forced off with a hamstring injury and is likely to miss the midweek clash with Stuttgart:
“He looks as though he has a soft-tissue problem, due to the nature of the mechanics of opening the leg so much in such a late moment of the game when muscles can be fatigued. We’ll assess him. He’ll probably miss Thursday but I don’t expect him to be out too long.”
Hull
Midfielder Mo Diame missed yesterday’s loss to Spurs after sustaining a knee injury in training and is set for scans, Steve Bruce has confirmed.
Liverpool
Jordan Henderson recovered from a hamstring complaint sustained on international duties but was ruled out of yesterday’s clash at Palace due to illness, the club’s official website confirmed.
Manchester City
Sergio Aguero and Stevan Jovetic both missed training for City today but Manuel Pellegrini has eased any concerns over the Argentine’s fitness by confirming the pair have “no problem” ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League showdown with Bayern.
Manchester United
Luke Shaw was subbed off during the first-half of United’s win at Arsenal with an ankle injury. Worryingly for Louis van Gaal, the defender was pictured leaving the Emirates on crutches and wearing a protective boot.
Young’s replacement Ashley Young was also withdrawn late in the match and the Red Devils boss discussed the pair’s withdrawals:
“Shaw has come back from internationals not fit enough so we made him fit, but then he gets injured again. Then I have to give Young a game but Young is not fit enough to play 90 minutes.”
Newcastle
Ryan Taylor was forced off just 34 minutes into his first league start since March 2012 this weekend. After sustaining two cruciate ligament injuries in the previous two years, there were initial fears that the Magpies man had suffered a setback but scans have since allayed any worries. Taylor took to twitter to explain his withdrawal was a precautionary measure, with reports suggesting he could be in line to return for the upcoming clash with West Ham.
“Just to let you know I have no major problem and I had to come off just to be on the safe side. I was just gutted to come off, that’s why I got so emotional as I’ve worked so hard to get back. Thanks again.”
QPR
Sandro was withdrawn on the hour mark in the weekend defeat at Newcastle due to a knee injury, Harry Redknapp has confirmed. The R’s boss also rolled out an update on Chilean duo Eduardo Vargas and Mauricio Isla, who were both unavailable for the 1-0 loss:
“We missed Vargas today. His wife had gone into labour so he wasn’t available and then Isla arrived late back on Thursday night. He looked absolutely out on his feet on Friday morning having played two games this week in South America so there was no way he could play.”
Stoke
Victor Moses was replaced just 10 minutes into the second-half of the Potters’ home loss to Burnley after sustaining an injury, according to match reports.
Tottenham
Mauricio Pochettino was forced into making a number of changes to his starting line-up for yesterday’s win at Hull. Top scorer Nacer Chadli has undergone scans on a knee problem, whilst Etienne Capoue, Younes Kaboul, Andros Townsend and Danny Rose also failed to feature due to injury, the club’s official website confirmed. Roberto Soldado was replaced on 79 minutes after picking up a knock, according to match reports.
West Ham
Alex Song and Enner Valencia both missed the Hammers’ trip to Everton after picking up injuries in training, whilst Cheick Kouyate suffered a knock whilst on international duty with Senegal. The trio joined Diafra Sakho and Stewart Downing on the sidelines in the 2-1 loss and after the match, Sam Allardyce would only say:
“We hope they are not too long or too serious. It’s the worst international break I’ve had in my time at West Ham United.”
Hammers owner David Gold afforded us reasons for optimism earlier today, after announcing the quintet could be in with a chance of facing Newcastle this weekend.
Allardyce will also be monitoring the fitness of Mark Noble, after the midfielder limped off early in the second-half, to be replaced by Matt Jarvis.
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