After being substituted in the 53rd minute of Tottenham’s 2-0 victory over Liverpool last Sunday, Rafael Van der Vaart – who also scored the opening goal in the match – has confirmed that he is suffering with a stretched calf. The influential midfielder has stressed that he will do all he can and battle on to prove his fitness ahead of the final game of the season against Birmingham at White Hart Lane.
Connecting with fans through his official Twitter account, the Dutch international made the announcement:
“Stretched my calf a bit last Sunday against Liverpool but will do everything to make the last game of the season!”
Van der Vaart holds a very healthy Fantasy Premier League (FPL) ownership (27%) and, with his early withdrawal at Anfield, those managers – including 8 of the top 10 FPL – will have been anticipating an announcement. Today’s news will be met with a mixed reception however. While Van der Vaart seemingly has a chance of figuring in Sunday’s game, he could also miss out entirely or have his pitch time cut considerably once again.
Even though he has been considered a doubt since the victory at Anfield, media silence on Van der Vaart’s situation, together with his reputation this season, has seen him climb to fourth in our Captain’s Poll with 10% of the vote. A home clash against a faltering Birmingham offers potential profits and the Dutchman is understandably a leading contender for the armband. Van der Vaart has been in FPL staple for many a Manager this term, fetching a tally of 165 points which includes 13 goals and 9 assists.
For many this final gameweek could prove crucial and, with Van der Vaart holding such a prominent place in a high number squads, his situation over the coming days will need to be monitored carefully – the midfielder’s appearance on Sunday looks likely to have major significance to our fortunes as Fantasy Managers and those of Birmingham City. Check out our Twitter stream for all the latest.
