Zoltan Gera is ruled out for the season with a knee injury. Liverpool are set to reveal the findings of Lucas’ knee scan, while Man United picked up a few injury doubts last night’s shock Carling Cup exit to Crystal Palace.
Liverpool have recalled Jonjo Shelvey from his loan spell at Blackpool due to an injury picked up by Lucas in Tuesday’s Carling Cup win at Chelsea. While rumours abound of the severity of Lucas’ problem, the club have released no official statement- Shelvey was due to stay at the Seasiders till the end of the calendar year, suggesting the Brazilian’s return will not be imminent. With Steven Gerrard also injured, Shelvey could find himself thrown straight into the first-team, though Jordan Henderson and Jay Spearing offer other options in the middle. Lucas’ loss, if confirmed, will be a huge blow to the club, with his ball-winning abilities a key contribution to their solid defensive start to the season.
Man United’s shock home defeat by Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup last night also produced some injury worries. The match report on the United website claims Fabio, Rafael and Dimitar Berbatov all picked up injuries in the defeat, with the Bulgarian –subbed off on forty-nine minutes- leaving Old Trafford wearing a protective boot. Fabio and Berbatov picked up hamstring and ankle problems respectively,while Rafael’s is not stated- the club admitted today they are still awaiting news on the injuries
Martin Jol revealed he will be without a couple of key players for Fulham’s Europa League clash with FC Twente tonight. Clint Dempsey will miss out with a slight thigh problem, while Chris Baird stays at home due to personal reasons. Damien Duff and Stephen Kelly have both been included in the Cottagers squad, having recovered from calf and groin injuries respectively.
Reports this morning suggest Roman Pavlyuchenko will return to training tomorrow after scans allayed fears of a knee injury. The Russian suffered the problem in training on Tuesday and missed last night’s Europa League loss to PAOK but looks likely to be part of the squad for Saturday’s home game against Bolton. Jermain Defoe led the line from the start in the defeat, with Fantasy managers hoping this could lead to a weekend return for Rafael Van der Vaart. If the Dutchman was definitely out, Redknapp would perhaps not have risked Defoe, goes many a managers’ line of thinking.
Spurs now stand on the brink of elimination from the competition, with Harry Redknapp moving to defend his selection decision post-match:
We have been lucky so far and the important thing is that we have the players fresh for the Premier League at the weekend.We have changed the team in this competition and that is why we have done so well in the league, where we have won nine and drawn one in our last 10 games. If we had Roman Pavlyuchenko and Giovani Dos Santos fit, we would not have played Luka Modric, Jermain Defoe or Aaron Lennon.
Paul Lambert was given a significant injury boost with the news that both Zak Whitbread and Daniel Ayala completed a ninety minute run out in Norwich’s reserve game against Dereham. The Canaries boss admitted that, if necessary, both could be included for Saturday’s trip to Man City, while Ritchie de Laet has yet to train this week after being subbed off against QPR with a back injury. Elliott Ward has also stepped up his recovery from a long-term knee injury, with Lambert reckoning he could be back within weeks.
Andy Wilkinson is unlikely to feature for Stoke tonight in the Europa League clash with Dynamo Kiev. According to the club’s official website, he passed a late fitness test on calf and knee injuries prior to Saturday’s win over Blackburn but is still being troubled by the problems. His Fantasy owners this gives him enough time to recover before Sunday’s trip to Everton.
West Brom fans are reeling after the news that Zoltan Gera has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. The midfielder had missed the start of the campaign through injury and suspension and had only just returned to action in gameweek eleven but lasted just twenty minutes in Saturday’s home loss to Spurs before suffering the injury. More game time for the likes of Peter Odemwingie and Simon Cox now seems likely in the Hungarian’s absence.
