Nani looks a nailed-on starter for next week, says Sir Alex Ferguson. Liverpool are hopeful on Glen Johnson’s fitness. Darren Bent uses twitter to explain his shoulder injury while Man City coach David Platt questions Carlos Tevez’s participation in next Monday’s home game with Swansea. With only five days to go before the big kick-off, here’s this morning’s Scribbles:
Nani’s two-goal performance in yesterday’s Community Shield has earned him a starting place in game week 1. Buoyed by the winger‘s contribution in the 3-2 comeback win over Man City, Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed after the game that the player will be part of his first XI at West Brom next Sunday:
“You have seen Nani’s form in pre-season and again here. He will start the season.”
The United boss was also full of praise for young Tom Cleverley, whose half-time introduction at the expense of Michael Carrick gave his side an extra attacking impetus from central midfield.
Liverpool are confident Glen Johnson will make the season opener at home to Sunderland. The right-back limped out of Saturday’s game with Valencia with a thigh injury and has subsequently been ruled out of this week’s England squad but Kenny Dalglish is optimistic Johnson will make it for the weekend.
Fabio Aurelio reckons he could play a big part in Liverpool’s season. Despite the club being linked with Jose Enrique throughout the summer, the Brazilian says he’s ready to step up and nail down the left-back role:
My problem has been the injuries and I’m aware of that but I still believe I can be better than in the past and more available. This season we have our games mostly once a week so it could be a good season for me to have a run of games and fill that gap.
Man City coach David Platt has admitted it’s unlikely that Carlos Tevez will be taking part in the club’s home game with Swansea next Monday. While the striker’s future at the Etihad Stadium remains uncertain, Platt said of the Argentine:
“Just finished the Copa America and had three weeks off, which the players need. There’s only eight-nine days before that game [against Swansea], I think it’ll be tight. But Carlos is a strange one, in the sense he doesn’t need a lot of time to get back fit – so we’ll see. Once he’s back in the building, we’ll look at things then.”
Alex McLeish is confident James Collins will be fit for the start of the season. The centre-half injured his back in training last week and has been withdrawn from the Wales squad for the game against Australia on Wednesday. Collins has been one of Aston Villa’s stand-out players this pre-season and Big Eck said :
James has injured his back. He did it a few days ago to be fair and he thought he was okay in training on Friday. But I think the intensity of training over the last few days just flared it up and he was a bit stiff. Therefore, we didn’t want to risk him. It’s a worry – but knowing the type of character James is, I’m sure he’ll be determined to be on that pitch at Craven Cottage.
Darren Bent will miss England’s midweek match with a shoulder injury. The Villa forward used the medium of twitter to announce his injury but his withdrawal seems merely precautionary and he expects to be fit for the weekend game at Fulham. Bent tweeted :
Gutted I had to pull out of the England squad. The shoulder has been bothering me and wanna make sure I’m fully fit for the big KO next week.
Roy Hodgson is hopeful Peter Odemwingie will recover from an ankle knock to face Man United at the Hawthorns on Sunday. Last season’s top-scorer picked up the injury in a recent friendly with Bristol City and has yet to feature since for West Brom. Speaking ahead of yesterday’s game with Parma, Hodgson said of the injury:
We were hoping it would recover in time for today’s game but it didn’t. Now we’re hoping it won’t go beyond next week. Ankle injuries can take time and I wouldn’t want to put a timescale on it. All I want to say is the medical staff are very optimistic he’ll recover, so I’ve got to be optimistic. I’m sure he’ll be desperate to play against United and we’ll be happy to put him in the team if he’s fit.
Roberto Martinez may be without the talents of James McCarthy for the season opener at home to Norwich. The midfielder picked up an ankle injury in yesterday’s 1-0 win over Villarreal and Wigan are sweating on his availability. Good news for Martinez was the continued good form of Victor Moses- the winger scored the only goal, to net for the third game running.
Steve Bruce looks set to add another player to the Sunderland ranks this summer. The Black Cats boss has already snapped up nine players during the close season but intends to make that ten with the capture of winger James McClean from Derry City in a deal in the region of £1m.
