Jamie O’Hara is set to remain sidelined for another fortnight for Wolves. Taye Taiwo arrives at QPR from Milan on a loan deal to bolster Mark Hughes’ back line, Peter Crouch escapes FA punishment, while Norwich snap up Leeds skipper Jonny Howson:
Alex McLeish received an injury boost this morning with news that three of his first-team squad could return for the weekend FA Cup clash against Arsenal. Stephen Ireland, Gabby Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey are on course to recover from their respective hamstring, illness and Achilles problems in time for the Gunners showdown. Charles N’Zogbia is still expected to remain sidelined due to a heel problem, while Chris Herd could return from an ankle injury in a couple of weeks, having been missing since gameweek 16.
Norwich completed the signing of Leeds midfielder Jonny Howson for an undisclosed amount yesterday. With their skipper out of contract at the end of the season, Leeds have “reluctantly” accepted the Canaries offer, with Howson arriving at Carrow Road on a three-and-a-half year deal. The Norwich midfield has been something of a conundrum for Fantasy managers this season, with rotation meaning seven players have managed 11 or more league starts, though Paul Lamber clearly has high hopes for Howson, saying:
I think he can add goals to our midfield which I think we need and he can do that. He’ll get better as a player the higher the level he goes up. If he does that and everything goes well, he’ll be a great player for us.
Reports this morning suggest Chelsea are close to completing the signing of Genk’s Kevin de Bruyne. The Belgian champions have confirmed they are in talks over the player’s possible transfer, though it is thought the midfielder may well be loaned back to the club for the rest of the season.
Jamie O’Hara is expected to be sidelined for another fortnight, according to Wolves boss Mick McCarthy. The midfielder’s recovery from a double hernia operation has been slower than the club anticipated, with O’Hara missing the last seven league games. He was expected to be ready by the end of January, but a return for the gameweek 25 home clash with West Brom now looks more likely.
QPR have snapped up Taye Taiwo on loan from Milan until the end of the season. The left-back’s arrival at Loftus Road certainly puts question marks against the likes of Armand Traore and with his renowned set-piece abilities, looks like one to watch ahead of his side’s favourable upcoming run of fixtures (avl, WOL, bla, FUL, EVE, bol) as Mark Hughes looks to build on last week’s win over Wigan.
While Mario Balotelli faces a four-match ban, the FA have been a little more lenient towards Peter Crouch. The Stoke forward has escaped any punishment for his apparent eye-gouge on Jonas Olsson is the Potters’ 2-1 home defeat by West Brom on Saturday. Crouch was set to face a three-game suspension but has been given the all-clear after match ref Anthony Taylor cleared him retrospectively of any misdemeanours.
