Scout Scribbles – Sturridge Could Be Out for Season

Daniel Sturridge could miss the rest of the season for Liverpool. Hull could welcome back Mo Diame for this evening’s encounter with the Merseysiders. Diego Costa remains a real doubt for Chelsea’s trip to Leicester, whilst Nigel Pearson considers ringing the changes against the champions-elect.

Sturridge return doubtful this campaign

Daniel Sturridge’s season has been hit hard by a bevy of injuries – the latest of which could keep him sidelined for the remainder of the campaign. Speaking on the English striker’s ongoing travails in yesterday’s press conference, Brendan Rodgers insisted that the club would strive to get him back to full fitness but wouldn’t compromise his long-term health.

“When he’s been fit he’s been brilliant for the team, the key now is to see if we can get him back fit and consistently playing. We’ll see if that’s going to be this season or the pre-season. We’ll do what’s in the best interests of him; we have to protect Daniel and make sure he’s going to be here over the next number of years, playing and playing to the level that we all know he can.”

The Scout Says: In the absence of even a tentative return date, it looks increasingly likely that Sturridge will play no further part this campaign. Raheem Sterling had been the player touted to assume the goal scoring mantle in his stead, yet that didn’t transpire on the weekend, with the fleet-footed winger failing to fashion a single shot against West Brom at the weekend – as compared to Philippe Coutinho’s nine efforts on goal. Those who handed Sterling the captaincy over Eden Hazard will hope that Hull’s defence is more obliging than the Baggies’ rejuvenated rearguard. There’s promise in that respect, given that Steve Bruce’s men conceded the fourth-highest number of big chances (eight) in the last four Gameweeks, shipping eight goals in the process.

Mourinho eschews heavy rotation for Foxes tie

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho does not intend to name many alterations to his starting line-up when the Blues roll up to the King Power Stadium tomorrow night for their second match in four days.

“I don’t plan to make many changes. I know Leicester played on Saturday and we played on Sunday, but we will try to recover the players as best we can. We will leave the young players here to play their cup final against Man City so we don’t take them with us. Our squad is very short with the injuries we have and so there is no space for a lot of rotation.”

Speaking on the fitness of some of his key stars, the Portuguese boss admitted he’s unlikely to take a gamble on playing Diego Costa – in light of his propensity for injury setbacks – while Oscar was discharged from the hospital and slept at home following a serious collision with Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina on the weekend.

“I don’t know about Diego Costa. I have to think about if it deserves a gamble or if we wait a few more days to be completely sure. If it was a player without an injury history I would play him tomorrow, but because he is a player with a history I have to think about that. I really don’t know how Oscar is but the most important thing is that he is not in hospital. He went immediately to his house yesterday, slept at home, and he should be arriving [today].”

The Scout Says: Considering that Costa sustained a fresh hamstring injury the last time Mourinho took a calculated risk starting him, next weekend’s home clash with Palace now appears to be a more realistic return date. As the Blues manager showed against Arsenal, though, he has no qualms over utilising a false nine system to deal with his lack of strikers, with Loic Remy also missing out this evening. Indeed, there’s a possibility that if Chelsea clinch the title by the weekend, Mourinho could use Costa sparingly for the remaining matches in order to rest his dodgy hamstrings – a real concern for the forward’s 28% ownership.

Diame could return for Liverpool clash

Hull City manager Steve Bruce could welcome back Mo Diame and Andrew Robertson to his squad for their home tie against Liverpool on Tuesday, with no new injury complaints to report.

The Scout Says: Although Diame, at best, will only be afforded brief minutes in a potential return from injury against the Reds, his reinstatement would be good news for the Tigers’ chances of survival beyond this double Gameweek. The Senegalese midfielder’s eye for goal – as demonstrated by his four in five starts at the start of the season – would augment the assist potential of the likes of Ahmed Elmohamady and Dame N’Doye, who were both subject to investment spikes last week. Owners of the duo now watch on as they attempt to unlock a Liverpool back line that’s recorded clean sheets in four of their last six. On the flipside, the Merseysiders’ relative impotency at The Hawthorns offers hope for owners of Hull’s defenders that a shut-out is on the cards at the KC this evening.

Pearson may shuffle squad for Blues visit

Nigel Pearson hasn’t ruled out enacting a few changes to Leicester’s starting XI for their match-up against Chelsea. David Nugent and Jeffrey Schlupp are still touch-and-go for the Blues clash, while Jamie Vardy needed an injection in his foot before the Burnley fixture. With the Foxes facing Newcastle United in Saturday’s early kick off, Pearson is wary of further injuries given the quick turnaround of matches:

“My focus is Leicester City, we will always do what is best for us. If we need to freshen it up, we will. We’ve picked up some injuries in games. The likes of Nugent and Schlupp will have to be assessed to see whether they are going to be available for this one (Chelsea) or the weekend… Vardy had an injection in his foot just before the [Burnley] game. We will assess it. It’s not too bad getting players prepared for this game, but of course then it becomes the situation of we have a game played earlier on a Saturday having played on a Wednesday, but that’s how it is. Of course we have to keep an eye on [the Newcastle game]. It would be remiss of us not to do that because we work heavily in conjunction with the medical and sports science aspects of the Football Club. The considerations are about our players and the turnaround of games. I’m not too concerned about other people’s thoughts.”

The Scout Says: Pearson’s soundbites don’t dispel the notion that he could rest a selection of key players ahead of the more winnable Newcastle visit on Saturday. Although the Foxes will fancy their chances against any outfit at home in light of their ongoing four-match winning streak, owners of Wes Morgan, Robert Huth and Esteban Cambiasso will pray that the head coach doesn’t spring a surprise and make a raft of changes. The fitness of Schlupp and Nugent remains a concern looking beyond the double. Leicester close out the season with an agreeable run-in that includes three home clashes (NEW, SOU, QPR) and a trip to Sunderland – validating the tactic to heavily back Pearson’s side in the first place. The Magpies encounter is certainly one that Schlupp’s ownership would be loath to miss out on, given that the Tynesiders have notched a pitiful five goals in nine Gameweeks.

Advocaat considers omitting Johnson for Black Cats run-in

Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat is considering keeping Adam Johnson out of the matchday squad until the end of the season in response to his off-field issues, citing the winger’s current mental state as a primary concern.

The Scout Says: Save for the ongoing investigations surrounding Adam Johnson, the Black Cats winger would’ve been a prime candidate for their double Gameweek 37 (LEI, ars) had he played himself back into form with a run of starts. In his absence, Fantasy managers may well turn their attention towards Jack Rodwell (two goals in seven) and Sebastian Larsson (three goals, four assists this season) in their search for midfield differentials. Connor Wickham (two in two) reaffirmed his position as a strong selection with his goal against Stoke City on the weekend, while Jermain Defoe (three in nine) will be on a few radars across the next two rounds of fixtures.