United’s Jonny Evans and John O’Shea will not play again this year. Both failed to make the trip to Germany for tomorrow night’s Champions League tie with Wolfsburg and the club have officially ruled them out until January, amidst a defensive crisis at the club. In addition, both Rooney and Berbatov are out of the tie and are both doubts for the weekend clash with Villa…
This is big news for fantasy managers. Firstly, let’s tackle the bad news on Rooney. He apparently has a hamstring injury, while Berbatov is suffering from a knee problem. Ferguson described them as doubtful for the weekend meet with Villa opening the way for Owen, Welbeck, Macheda or even Giggs (who has been rested for tomorrow night’s tie) to feature up front…
“We left Ryan behind because we’ve been playing him in one game a week and that has worked for us. He is fit for Saturday, but Berbatov and Rooney are both doubtful.”
Rooney’s absence off the back of four goals in two games would come as a massive blow to his fantasy owners. We can only await further news on his situation as the week progresses. Giggs certainly becomes more a short-term draw for the weekend now though.
As for the defence. That’s now simply in tatters for Tuesday’s European game – I’ve said more on that in a previous post. Beyond tomorrow night, this latest news on O’Shea and Evans appears to open up Wes Brown as a regular starter in the United back four. Ferguson is hopeful that both he and Vidic will make returns for the weekend…
“Rafael and Fabio will certainly not [feature against Villa]. We’re hoping that we can have Wes Brown fit for Saturday. But it’s a strain and it won’t be an easy one.”
Again, we can only await news later this week but, even after this gameweek, Brown now looks a good option as a mid-price defender (5.6 in the Fantasy Premier League game), as does Rafael when fit. He will surely take up the right-back berth in the absence of Neville (who picked up a groin injury against West Ham) and O’Shea. Fletcher or possibly Hargreaves could be other options for Ferguson, so Rafael looks a little more of a gamble right now. Brown looks nailed on for starts though, when he is fit, with Ferdinand, O’Shea and Evans now out of the equation.
There will be those who consider investment in the United defence a risk with so many injuries to contend with. However, one look at United’s forthcoming fixtures over Christmas and New Year suggests that they still have the personnel to cope with their opponents and bring in some clean sheets. The weekend clash with Villa is their most testing fixture on paper for a very long time to come. As far as I can see, the Rooney injury aside, this latest news hands us fantasy managers some new options. From adversity comes opportunity.