Equatorial Guinea do Fantasy managers a huge favour by sending Senegal home early from the African Cup of Nations. Gareth Bale is an early doubt for Spurs’ FA Cup clash with Watford, unconfirmed reports suggest Nani could be sidelined for a couple of months, while Nedum Onouha reunites with Mark Hughes at Loftus Road:
Equatorial Guinea’s 2-1 victory over Senegal in the African Cup of Nations last night proved extremely significant for Fantasy managers. The latter –one of the pre-tournament favourites- have now lost both their opening games and, as a result, have been knocked out of the tournament.
This means Demba Ba, Papiss Demba Cisse, Mohamed Diame and Armand Traore will all be on the flight back home to England on Monday, with a final group game against Libya still to play on Sunday evening. Ba, of course, has been a Fantasy sensation this season and despite missing his club’s last two games due to international duties, he is fourth overall top scorer, behind Robin Van Persie, David Silva and Gareth Bale.
With Newcastle’s next league game on Wednesday at Blackburn, there’s a possibility that Ba, and new signing Cisse, could feature but the situation rests entirely in Alan Pardew’s hands- at the moment, we can only speculate. It depends on whether the Magpies boss feels both will be ready, given that they will have flown a considerable distance only a couple of days before. Alternatively, Pardew may choose to rest them and unleash his new strike force for home clash against Aston Villa the following Sunday. The Newcastle boss is expected to host his usual pre-weekend press conference this afternoon- fingers crossed he will reveal his plans then.
The Daily Mirror suggest Nani could be out for up to two months with the foot injury sustained in the weekend win at Arsenal. While Man United have yet to make any statement on the situation, the Mirror claims reports from Portugal indicate the winger has undergone a scan, amid fears of ligament damage or a broken metatarsal. Any confirmed period of absence would certainly see Antonio Valencia’s ownership swell, with the Ecuadorian producing some sensational wing displays of late.
Spurs assistant manager Kevin Bond gave an injury update this morning ahead of the weekend FA Cup match against Watford. Bond admitted Younes Kaboul, Gareth Bale and Scott Parker are all doubts for the clash; Kaboul didn’t train yesterday, while Bale and Parker withdrew from training after picking up “slight muscle injuries”.
QPR have announced the signing of Nedum Onouha from Man City on a four-and-a-half year deal. The defender joins up at Loftus Road for an undisclosed fee and is Mark Hughes’ second signing of the transfer window, following Taye Taiwo’s loan move from AC Milan. Hughes has indicated Onouha’s adaptability at the back played a major part in his decision to acquire his services, explaining:
Nedum is a player I know very well. He did very well for me at Manchester City and played a number of games, probably more than under any other manager. He is very versatile. He can play centre back or right back, and has good pace. He is a very good addition to the squad. It’s important that we are able to attract good players here. Nedum had other options but his experience with myself and the other guys here was a big factor in why he has come to us. I am pleased about that.
Wigan have completed the signing of Jean Beausejour from Birmingham in a two-and-a-half year deal. The Chilean arrives for an undisclosed fee and is clearly highly thought of by Roberto Martinez, with the Latics boss saying:
Jean is a player we have been tracking for a long time since he made a huge impression on us with his role for Chile in the World Cup. Now Jean has 18 months of experience in the British game and his dynamism, technical ability and tactical concepts will bring a different dimension into our squad.
Man City have accepted the four-match ban dished out to Mario Balotelli by the FA. The Italian was found guilty of a stamp on Scott Parker in last Sunday’s game at the Etihad and, having sat out the Carling Cup draw at Anfield last night, will now miss City’s next three league games (eve, FUL, avl) and return for the gameweek 26 home clash with Blackburn.
Alex McLeish has confirmed that both Stephen Ireland and Emile Heskey will return to full training tomorrow ahead of the FA Cup clash with Arsenal. Both will come into contention for the Gunners showdown, though McLeish revealed Charles N’Zogbia has been referred to a specialist with a heel problem, with the injury taking looking to clear up than previously anticipated.
Bolton have confirmed the signing of US international defender Tim Ream this morning. The centre-half arrives from New York Red Bulls on a three-and-a-half year deal and his acquisition is a significant boost for Owen Coyle, with Gary Cahill not long departed to Chelsea.
