Anders Lindegaard is a doubt for this evening’s game with Stoke. The FA charges Yohan Cabaye with violent conduct. John Terry and Frank Lampard both miss out for Chelsea at Swansea. The injuries build for Mark Hughes up front, Spurs have a couple of hamstring doubts and Martin O’Neill’s midfield options are lessened with the news that David Vaughan is out with an ankle injury:
The Telegraph reports that Anders Lindegaard is a doubt for United’s game with Stoke this evening after turning an ankle in training. Having started five of his side’s last six league games, the Dane looks in pole position to claim the role of the regular number one but is described as “highly unlikely” to play. The champions will turn to David De Gea in Lindegaard’s absence but the Spaniard’s nervy display in the weekend FA Cup defeat at Liverpool on Saturday is indicative of his below-par season and will hardly inspire his back-four with confidence- an aerial bombardment from Stoke can be expected.
The FA announced last night that Yohan Cabaye is facing a three-match ban after being charged with violent conduct. The Frenchman was involved in an incident with Brighton’s Adam El-Abd on Saturday evening and has until 6pm this evening to respond. If banned, he stands to miss (bla, AVL, tot) and, with Cheik Tiote also unavailable due to international commitments, Alan Pardew will be without his first-choice midfield until gameweek 26. Cabaye’s suspension looks good for Ryan Taylor’s chances of more game time- Taylor had recently lost his place at left-back and was dropped for Hatem Ben Arfa after a couple of games on the right wing, but his versatility stands him in good stead of replacing the former Lille man.
The FA decided to take no action against Robin Van Persie for an incident in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Aston Villa. The Gunners skipper was alleged to have caught Carlos Cuellar with a stray elbow in Sunday’s game but, as the referee confirmed he had seen the incident, there will be no further investigation in the matter.
Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon are both doubts ahead of Tottenham’s home clash with Wigan this evening. Spurs coach Joe Jordan revealed the duo did not train with the rest of the squad yesterday and will be assessed this morning. The return of Gareth Bale to training was good news for Fantasy managers- the Welshman had missed the FA Cup win at Watford on Friday due to a thigh injury but looks to have recovered in time for the Latics clash.
Mick McCarthy received some good news on the injury front yesterday. Emmanuel Frimpong has fully recovered from the eye injury received in the gameweek 22 home defeat by Aston Villa and is available for this evening’s game with Liverpool. Jamie O’Hara stepped up his recovery from double hernia surgery by turning out for forty minutes in Wolves’ reserves game with Fulham last night. The midfielder has not featured since gameweek 15 but looks on course for a return to first-team action in a fortnight’s time, providing all goes well.
Demba Ba and Papiss Demba Cisse were afforded forty-five minutes each in Senegal’s final game in the African Cup of Nations. Ba started the 2-1 defeat by Libya, but was subbed off for Cisse at half-time; the pair have since flown home and will be assessed by the Newcastle medical staff prior to Wednesday’s trip to Blackburn.
Reports suggest Fulham have made a bid for Hugo Rodallega ahead of this evening’s closure of the transfer window. The Colombian, subject of yesterday’s Watchlist article, is out of contract at the end of the season and Martin Jol has apparently offered Andy Johnson, in addition to £2m, for the forward’s signature.
Owen Coyle admitted he may consider selling Kevin Davies if the player insists on forcing through a move away from Bolton. Reports suggest Martin O’Neill is to bid for the player’s services as he looks to bolster the Sunderland attack and Davies, who has fallen out of favour at the Reebok, would certainly add plenty top-flight experience to the Black Cats’ front line. The Trotters’ skipper hasn’t started in the league since gameweek 16 and has managed a mere twenty-five minutes in the last six gameweeks.
Matthew Etherington will be assessed ahead of tonight’s trip to Old Trafford after being subbed off with a slight groin niggle at Derby on Saturday. Although he admitted his decision to take Etherington off at the weekend was a precautionary measure, Tony Pulis may choose not to risk the winger, with three home games in four following on from the Man United match.
Mark Hughes has a few injury worries for QPR’s trip to Aston Villa. Up front, in particular, his side are struggling for options; Heidar Helguson looks unlikely to feature after suffering a recurrence of a groin problem in the FA Cup defeat by Chelsea, while both DJ Campbell and Jay Bothroyd are also set to miss out. No wonder, then, that the new boss has confirmed his interest in bringing Djibril Cisse to the club before tomorrow’s deadline. Hughes revealed Akos Buzsaky is also a doubt; the Hungarian hadn’t trained last week due to an ankle problem and although he played against the Blues on Saturday, is struggling to make Wednesday’s match.
Hughes had better news on the transfer front yesterday, with confirmation that Nancy midfielder Samba Diakite has signed for the London outfit until the end of the season. Diakite is currently unavailable for selection, though; he is starring for Mali in the African Cup of Nations and will return to the club once his international duties are completed. His new boss seemed delighted with the deal, explaining:
He is a good age, has got strength, power, can carry the ball and can score goals from midfield on occasions. He will give us more physical presence and athleticism in the middle of the park so he is going to be a good addition.
The move looks to place question marks against Buzsaky’s place in the first XI. He had started every game since the departure of Neil Warnock but with Hughes going to great lengths to secure Diakite, the new boy’s place in central midfield looks assured.
David Moyes revealed Sylvain Distin and Jack Rodwell have returned to training, as the pair continue their recovery from hamstring injuries. Neither will be available for tonight’s match with Man City, however, with the Everton boss admitting the game has come too soon for the duo. Seamus Coleman, Leon Osman and Phil Jagielka also remain sidelined for the Toffees.
Martin O’Neill will be without the services of David Vaughan “for the next few weeks” after the midfielder picked up an ankle injury at the weekend. Vaughan was subbed off near the end of the FA Cup draw with Middlesboro and adds to Sunderland’s central midfield woes, with Lee Cattermole currently a doubt for the game against Norwich due to a hamstring problem. The Black Cats boss also confirmed Connor Wickham and Wes Brown are to undergo scans- the pair were also subbed off on Sunday.
Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed John Terry is unavailable for this evening’s trip to Swansea. Speaking yesterday, the Chelsea boss admitted Terry has been plagued with fluid in his knee and, although his skipper will miss out, he expects him to be fit for the weekend’s showdown with Man United. Terry’s omission, however, could mean a possible start for Gary Cahill, though Villas-Boas could, of course, also opt for Branislav Ivanovic in the centre, with Jose Bosingwa right-back. Frank Lampard has failed to recover from a calf injury and remains sidelined, John Obi Mikel is also unavailable, and Ramires is ruled out for 3-4 weeks with a knee problem.
