Everton’s 2-1 Europa Cup win over Sporting last night capped a bittersweet day for the Toffees as they received news that Marouane Fellaini would miss the rest of the season.
The Belgian international requires surgery on an ankle injury sustained in that tackle with Liverpool’s Sotirios Kyrgiakos during the Merseyside derby. Fellaini is expected to be out for around six months. According to Everton boss David Moyes, the midfielder has suffered a similar injury to Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie…
“He’s going to have an operation. He’s got a similar injury to Robin van Persie and it’s probably going to keep him out for six months.”
Adding further insult to this injury – Everton lost Tim Cahill to a calf injury in yesterday’s win over Sporting. Cahill is now a major doubt for the visit of United to Goodison this weekend…
“Cahill may have a calf strain, we’re not sure of the severity yet”
It was goals from Steven Piennar and Sylvain Distin that proved decisive in the Europa Cup tie, although Everton did lose Distin to a red card late on with Sporting converting the resultant penalty to put the tie in the balance.
Everton had got close to being at full strength for the first time this season having seen the likes of Pienaar, Arteta and Yobo return to action of late. Last night’s bench was almost recognisable. As the injuries cleared, so the form improved. Everton have lost only one of their last eight league matches, scoring twelve and conceding just five goals.
Fellaini in particular, had flourished in a deeper, almost holding midfield role. His absence won’t be a direct blow to us fantasy managers then, but with Everton robbed of his presence in the engine room, they will face disruption. John Heitinga, cup-tied against Sporting, could now be set for the holding midfield role for the remainder of the season. He could be of interest then, given that he is classed as a defender across the fantasy games.
Tim Cahill loss would be another major blow. He is another key player – crucial to Moyes’s favoured 4-5-1 formation. With Fellaini often played in that role behind the lone striker, Moyes may now have to shift to a 4-4-2 and turn to Yakubu as a partner to Saha. The Nigerian is a proven talent but has been blighted by injury. Landon Donovan is another option. He could well be pushed up in Cahill’s role while the Aussie sits out.
Moyes handed a full start to Mikel Arteta again last night, although the Spaniard was replaced by Jack Rodwell on 77 minutes. Arteta’s role in midfield the absence of Fellaini and Cahill now looks to be crucial to Everton’s fortunes over the coming fixtures. We will look closer at Arteta’s potential in an article later today.
Fantasy investment in Everton has been earmarked from gameweek 29 onwards. At that point David Moyes’ side face Hull at Goodison, the first of a series of kind fixtures that takes them to the end of the season. Trips to Birmingham, Villa and Man City (yet to be arranged) look to be the toughest challenges awaiting Everton from gameweek 29-38.
In the short-term Everton take on a trip to White Hart Lane following this weekend’s clash with Rooney and United. Given these latest injuries, fantasy managers may do well to sit back and see how Moyes adapts his system. Tim Cahill’s fitness and the form of Mikel Arteta will take time to assess. Gameweek 29 and that home game with Hull looks a good time to to take stock once again.