The FA overturn Jack Rodwell’s three-match ban, Adel Taarabt looks likely to escape a fine after his Sunday walk out at Craven Cottage. Bacary Sagna is expected to be sidelined for three months after surgery, as Wojciech Szczesny also joins the Gunners injury list. Steve Bruce hints at upcoming first-team chances for Connor Wickham, Alan Pardew warns against changing his winning formula and Man City look set to make a decision over Carlos Tevez by Thursday, according to reports. Here’s some quick Tuesday morning Scribbles, folks…
This afternoon saw Jack Rodwell’s red card and subsequent three-match ban rescinded by the authorities. An FA panel ruled against Martin Atkinson’s decision to send off the midfielder in Saturday’s derby with Liverpool and Rodwell is now available for selection with immediate effect.
Despite storming out of Craven Cottage after his half-time substitution on Sunday, Adel Taarabt will not be fined by Neil Warnock. While his side were being beaten 6-0 by Fulham, the Moroccan was pictured at a bus stop looking slightly sheepish after his tantrum but Warnock reportedly empathises with the player:
“Put it this way, if I was subbed at half-time after that first half, I would have left. There was nowhere for him to sit and watch the game, so I don’t blame him for going. It’s been blown out of all proportion.”
Arsenal have today confirmed Bacary Sagna has undergone surgery on a fractured right fibula. The right-back was taken off on sixty-eight minutes against Spurs after a collision and will be out of action for a minimum three months with the problem. Young Carl Jenkinson looks likely to step up as an automatic replacement, though given the Gunners poor defensive record of late, little confidence can be expected in their back line.
Gunners goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has pulled out of Poland’s upcoming internationals with a back injury. The stopper didn’t appear to be suffering with the problem in the weekend clash with Spurs, though, and is expected to return for the Gameweek eight home clash with Sunderland.
Sunderland have joined the chase for ex-Birmingham player James McFadden. The Scot is a free agent after his St Andrews contract run out over the summer and has been training with Wolves recently, with a bid from Mick McCarthy already on the table. Steve Bruce has also entered the fray as the Black Cats look to boost their forward options following a stuttering start to the season.
Bruce has been full of praise for Nicklas Bendtner after Saturday’s home draw with West Brom. A goal and assist from the big Dane at the Stadium of Light means he has returned one goal, three assists and 3 FPL bonus points in his four games for the Black Cats but is unavailable for the Gameweek eight match at Arsenal due to the loan arrangement with his parent club. In spite of his interest in McFadden, Bruce has assured Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-won their time will come:
“But certainly, Connor and Ji are in my thoughts. Their time might be just around the corner too, so let’s hope when they get their chance, they can give everybody a lift too.”
Carlos Tevez is likely to learn his Man City fate by Thursday. The forward was interviewed by club officials for an hour yesterday and after giving his side of events, has reportedly been allowed to fly home to Argentina. Keen to clear up the saga, the club are expected to make their decision within the next forty-eight hours- from a Fantasy angle, Tevez’s possible departure would certainly mean more starts for the likes of Mario Balotelli and with Sergio Aguero’s injury still unclear, the Italian has shown he’s ready to step up to the task, with two goals in his last two starts for City.
Despite the return to fitness of the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa and Davide Santon, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has admitted he’s wary of making changes. Unbeaten after seven games and sitting in fourth place, Pardew feels consistency of selection has been one of the key reasons his side are currently excelling:
“There’s no doubt that one or two players coming into the team can change the character of it quite quickly. That was evident at Nottingham Forest (in the Carling Cup third round), when we conceded three goals – and two of them were quite sloppy ones…You have always got to be adaptable and always got to be ready to understand that one player can make the make-up of the team very different.”
