There was a spate of injuries today involving some fairly significant players for Fantasy Managers. Gary Neville was helped off in the first half of United’s 4-1 win over Bolton and has suffered Ankle ligament damage. This will apparently keep him out for 3 weeks which will mean Neville will miss United’s games with Boro (FA Cup), Blackburn and, more than likely, the Portsmouth game. His absence will mean a run of games for Wes Brown. Elsewhere Micah Richards, Caleb Folan and Emanuel Pogatetz were all taken off with first half injuries, while Rob Hulse appeared to suffer a fractured ankle that will end his season.

Richards has suffered a calf strain which saw him taken off in the first half. The good news is that this injury does appear to be too serious. Richards will still join up with the England squad and could yet figure, given Neville’s injury, in the game next weekend. He therefore should be in the reckoning for City’s next Premiership match at Newcastle.

In the same match, Pogatetz was stretchered off with an knee injury. Again it appears that this injury is not too serious. The Austrian was taken for an immediate scan which revealed no serious damage [source].
He is obviously a doubt for Monday’s replay with United but should make a return for Boro in the Premiership at West Ham.

Wigan’s Caleb Folan has suffered an ankle injury that saw him taken off and replaced by Henri Camara in the first half. Folan will undergo a scan and there is no prognosis right now.

The injury to Rob Hulse was described as “horrific” as the Blades’ striker’s ankle snapped beneath him. The Sheffield Utd striker was stretchered off against Chelsea and will undergo a scan this weekend. However, Warnock has already commented that it appears that Hulse has suffered a double fracture [source]. If confirmed, this will end Hulse’s season and is likely to mean a run of games for Stead and Kazim-Richards.