Scout Scribbles – Long a Doubt for Baggies

Shane Long is a doubt for West Brom’s home clash with Southampton. Pablo Zabaleta is fit for City’s trip to West Ham, Andy Wilkinson is set to fill in at left-back for Stoke’s injured regular Marc Wilson, Emmanuel Adebayor is fit but will need to remain patient for a starting berth, while Martin O’Neill backs Adam Johnson to produce the goods for Sunderland.:

West Brom are awaiting Shane Long’s scan results on knee and hamstring problems sustained in last weekend’s game at Newcastle. The Irishman has mainly been favoured over Romelu Lukaku as Steve Clarke’s first-choice forward this term, starting seven of the Baggies first nine matches and has proven a consistent, if somewhat unspectacular source of points, with attacking returns in six of his nine appearances. Lukaku started at St James’ Park last Sunday, though, and his goal against the Magpies means he has now scored in both his starts – with the midlands outfit set to host a Southampton side that have conceded 16 goals in four away fixtures, plenty of investment could come Lukaku’s way before tomorrow’s deadline if Long is ruled out in Clarke’s press conference later on today.

Manchester City’s official site has confirmed that Pablo Zabaleta is fit and available for tomorrow’s evening clash at West Ham. The news is welcome relief for Roberto Mancini after Micah Richards was ruled out for four months earlier this weeks after undergoing knee surgery, while summer signing Maicon remains in the treatment room after picking up a foot just one league game into his Etihad career. With City conceding just once in their last three, Zabaleta – who has dropped from 6.0 to 5.7 in FPL – could be set for renewed interest, with little competition for a starting berth at right-back at the moment.

Tony Pulis has confirmed Andy Wilkinson is set to fill in for the injured Marc Wilson at left-back for Stoke. Wilson had picked up Fantasy interest ahead of the Potters’ strong run of fixtures due to his 4.5 FPL price but is now expected to be out for around three months with a broken leg sustained in last week’s draw with Sunderland. Wilkinson lost his right-back role to Geoff Cameron after a recent three-game suspension but now looks set to be offered a first-team lifeline, in light of Wilson’s unfortunate news. Priced at 4.4 and 4.5 respectively, Wilkinson and Cameron could be primed for investment – both look nailed-on for the full-back roles at present. Pulis also revealed Glenn Whelan has recovered from a hamstring injury and is set to return to the side for tomorrow’s trip to Norwich – the midfielder has started all of his side’s first seven fixtures before limping off with the problem just 19 minutes into the Gameweek 7 draw at Liverpool.

Andre Villas-Boas has ruled out Moussa Dembele of Spurs’ home clash with Wigan this weekend. The Belgian will remain on the sidelines with a hip problem picked up on recent international duty, though Emmanuel Adebayor returns to the squad after injury. Judging by his manager’s comments, however, the Togo international will have to be patient once again – yet to start a league game since joining up at the Lane this term after a hugely successful loan spell last season, he looks likely to remain on bench-warming duties against the Latics:

““He hasn’t played as much through injury – the biggest was his thigh. He was out for six games, from Reading to Villa. Then we lost him for two games recently. Whenever he came on he did well and he wants to be part of the team. But [Jermain] Defoe is doing well and we’ve gone eight games and he has five goals. That is the goalscoring ability that you want for your team. Ade is there too but has to be more patient at the moment – but I’m sure after these setbacks he can make a good run in the team too.”

Martin O’Neill has backed Adam Johnson to produce the goods after the winger’s poor start at Sunderland:

“We have attacking threats and it’s about getting that galvanized. That takes a little bit of time. For example, it’s Steven’s (Fletcher) first season here and the same with Adam, who were the two players we bought [in the summer]. Steven has had a really good start. Adam – I think through the injuries he sustained on international duty – just hasn’t been able to get a proper foothold. But I’ve no doubt he will come good. I imagine he will get back first of all to the form he has shown over the last couple of seasons, and secondly it won’t be far away.”

Johnson has yet to produce any attacking returns over his five starts for the Black Cats and with fellow wide-man James McClean managing a single assist in nine, it’s easy to see just why the Wearsiders are struggling to produce the goals right now. O’Neill has attempted to address the problem in recent games – Stephane Sessegnon was dropped for the trip to Stoke, with Seb Larsson moving to the role in “the hole”, while McClean was handed a sub role in the midweek cup defeat by Middlesbrough, with Johnson moving to the left and Sessegnon on the right wing. The Black Cats’ woes showed little sign of abating, though, with O’Neill’s side failing to score in either game.