Sir Alex Ferguson dismisses any notions of a long-term midfield role for Wayne Rooney. Arsene Wenger reveals his centre-back dilemma, while Spurs’ injury worries lessen as William Gallas and Steven Pienaar both make first-team returns:
The words of Sir Alex Ferguson offered some reassurance to Fantasy owners yesterday. While he’s been impressed with Wayne Rooney’s central midfield displays over the last two games, the United boss feels Rooney is still his first-choice forward and admitted his decision to drop the player into a deeper role has been enforced, due to injuries to others:
Wayne has scored 11 goals so far, so you want him to be in positions where he can get you more goals. I think that position is where he will normally play. But he disciplined himself against Galati and didn’t belt off forward all the time. He held his position quite well and played as a natural centre midfield player. He has the appetite for it, he’s got the energy levels for it and I thought his awareness of people around him was really good. I thought he did well, but I’m not putting any marker down for that position because it really depends on what is available elsewhere.
Peter Odemwingie is a doubt for West Brom’s trip to Arsenal this week. With Shane Long already sidelined, Roy Hodgson’s forward options are limited right now and Odemwingie has been unable to train since Tuesday since suffering a blow to the knee in training. Paul Scharner is definitely out of the Emirates showdown with a knee problem picked up last weekend at home to Liverpool.
Arsene Wenger admits achieving a balance to his centre-back pairing is crucial ahead of the Baggies game. With Thomas Vermaelen now available and Carl Jenkinson returning to right-back, the Gunners boss has five centre-halves to choose from, giving him a selection headache.
The balance is vital. Koscielny and Vermaelen can play together and Mertesacker can play with Vermaelen and Koscielny. It gives us a bit of an opportunity to rotate a bit when needed and people are tired. Ideally, Vermaelen will play on the left (of the centre-back pair) but Koscielny can play on the left as well so we have a good potential and balance there. I think that all the three can play at any moment, and we still have Djourou and Squillaci as well.
Wenger revealed both Kieran Gibbs and Marouane Chamakh are out of tomorrow’s match. Gibbs’s recovery is slower than anticipated and he may be available after the upcoming two week international break.
David Vaughan is still an injury doubt for Sunderland ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The midfielder picked up a groin strain in training midweek and could be replaced by Lee Cattermole if he fails to make it.
Reports suggest Patrice Evra may be omitted from the Man United side for personal reasons. The left-back missed United’s Champions League side in midweek following the death of a family member and has already been left out of the France squad for the same reason. This could see Fabio come into the reckoning for the match against Sunderland- he completed ninety minutes in the game against Otelul Galati in Evra’s absence.
Steven Pienaar and William Gallas both returned to the first-team fold last night in Spurs Europa League game with Ruben Kazan. Although Harry Redknapp failed to travel after an operation, the team was his selection, with the likes of Jermain Defoe also handed a start up front as Spurs unbeaten record came to an end.
Martin Jol named a strong lineup for Fulham’s home Europa League game with Wisla Krakow. Damien Duff, in for the suspended Moussa Dembele, celebrated a rare start by firing the Cottagers ahead against the Polish side. Andy Johnson continued his goalscoring exploits on the continent with a brace, as Jol’s side avenged the 1-0 loss to the same opponents a fortnight ago.
Ryan Shawcross and Marc Wilson missed out for Stoke in their 2-1 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv last night. Danny Higginbotham returned to action for the first time in seven months and slotted in at centre-half alongside Matthew Upson. Tony Pulis made nine changes from the side that lost to Newcastle on Monday night, with the likes of Matt Etherington and Jermaine Pennant dropping out ahead of a trip to Bolton.
