Gareth Bale is delighted with his new central role for Spurs. Yaya Toure is looking to delay his departure to the African Cup of Nations, while Phil Jones is hopeful of a return against old club Blackburn on Saturday:
Granted a more central role by Harry Redknapp in Spurs’ 2-0 win over Norwich on Tuesday evening, Gareth Bale ran amok with the freedom afforded by the newly-implemented 4-2-3-1 system. Bale’s Fantasy season continues to go from strength to strength and as the transfers-in continue to snowball ahead of a trip to Swansea, the Welshman admitted Redknapp’s change of formation is allowing him to flourish further:
It’s exciting, definitely. I’ve never really thought about playing through the middle but since people have been double marking and triple marking me, it is something I have had to bring into my game. It is great to be in there and I am enjoying it. I am improving all the time, especially in the free role. For a little while I’ve been coming off the line and getting in spaces. It is important I mix my game up and try and help the team rather than be stood out on the wing marked out of the game sometimes.
Fantasy owners of Phil Jones were given cause for optimism today, with the news that he expects to be ready to face former club Blackburn this weekend. Jones missed out in the 5-0 win over Wigan due to illness but according to the club’s official website, he’s on course for a return at Old Trafford this New Year’s Eve.
Yaya Toure has admitted he is hoping to put back his departure date for the upcoming African Cup of Nations tournament for as long as possible. The Ivory Coast squad is due to meet up on the 11th January but with Man City facing a hectic fixture schedule, Toure is hoping he can stay here until the 17th, meaning he would still be available for the club’s next three league games, including the gameweek 21 clash with Wigan.
As Liverpool’s struggles to impress as an attacking force continue, with just 5 goals in their last six games, Kenny Dalglish has heaped praise on the recent displays of Maxi Rodriguez. While new boys Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson have a single goal and no assists between them all season, the Argentine has netted twice in four starts and has now featured in the Liverpool first XI in three of the last four gameweeks.
Darren Bent is in contention to be available for Aston Villa’s trip to Chelsea on New Year’s Eve. The forward has missed the last three games due to a thigh strain but returned to training today ahead of the Stamford Bridge clash. Villa confirmed via their twitter feed this afternoon that Emile Heskey has been ruled out with an Achilles problem.
Alan Pardew confirmed yesterday that Demba Ba had picked up a knee knock ahead of Friday’s trip to Liverpool, much to the consternation of the Newcastle forward’s Fantasy owners. Reports today, however, suggest Ba is now expected to be fit for the Anfield clash. Having netted against the likes of Man United and Spurs, in addition to picking up an assist at Man City, Ba will hold no fear going into the Merseyside showdown, with 6 goals in his last six games indicative of his current form.
The injuries continue to rack up for Blackburn ahead of their trip to Old Trafford. Steve Kean’s selection options seem to be lessening by the day, with the news that both David Dunn and Junior Hoilett are battling to overcome hamstring injuries for the New Year’s Eve encounter. Kean also admitted Martin Olsson has only an “outside chance“ of featuring- the Swede is also suffering from a hamstring injury. With the likes of Scott Dann, Gael Givet and Ryan Nelsen all unavailable and Paul Robinson a doubt, Rovers will be fearing a repeat of last season’s 7-0 drubbing all over again.
Wolves are anxiously awaiting scans on Ronald Zubar’s knee problem after the defender was subbed off just after half-time in Tuesday’s draw at Arsenal. Zubar has not long returned from a six-month lay off and featured for the first time this season in gameweek 13. Mick McCarthy is also expecting to find out if the club’s appeal for the FA to rescind Nenad Milijas’ red card, picked up in the same match, will be rescinded.
Marouane Fellaini remains a doubt for Everton ahead of this weekend’s trip to West Brom. The Belgian is struggling to overcome an abductor strain that ruled him out of the trip to Sunderland, though David Moyes played his cards close to his chest, admitting he didn’t think the problem was “too bad”.
Robert Huth, Peter Crouch and Glenn Whelan are all injury worries for Tony Pulis ahead of Stoke’s home game with Wigan. The latter pair have missed the Potters’ last two games but Huth has now added to Pulis’ problems, after picking up a knock in the goalless draw against Aston Villa earlier this week. The Stoke boss clearly won’t be taking any risks, as he admitted:
We will check on all three of them over the next couple of days to see whether they will make it in time for Saturday. They are all key figures, but if they are not quite right, then it is important not to rush them back with so many games coming up. That is what it is all about at this time of the year, using the strength and depth of the squad when the games come thick and fast.
