Robert Huth will miss Stoke’s next two league games. Alex McLeish demands his side improve their defensive performances. Jack Rodwell is back in training for Everton, Shane Long remains a doubt for West Brom’s visit to Wolves, while Tim Ream could be set for a Bolton debut at home to Wigan:
The FA confirmed yesterday that the red card awarded to Robert Huth in Saturday’s game with Sunderland will stand. Huth will now miss the Potters’ next two league matches against Fulham and Swansea, in addition to an FA Cup Fifth Round match with Crawley Town, and will be available for the gameweek 27 home clash with Norwich. The decision is likely to see Jonathan Woodgate drafted into the first-team by Tony Pulis, with Andy Wilkinson having taken over from the summer signing at right-back in recent weeks.
Alex McLeish has hit back at Charles N’Zogbia after the winger took to twitter at the weekend to reveal he is unhappy at Villa. The former Wigan man has been in decent form of late, returning a goal and a couple of assists in his last three starts but his words after the 2-1 defeat at Newcastle haven’t went down well with McLeish, who explained:
If Charles is not enjoying his football, then he needs to do something about it on the pitch – and that applies to everyone and not just Charles N’Zogbia. It is not a coincidence the best moments Charles has had in a Villa shirt have come when he has been working hard – and that’s when you get the best rewards in anything.
McLeish also went on to criticise his side’s overall defensive work in the display at Newcastle, hinting that changes could be made for the weekend game against City. The Villa boss revealed his anger at a lack of industry, explaining:
We can’t have any passengers. It’s a crucial period for us coming up. We have got to be prepared to die to stop balls coming in from the sides. But we have to get back to shut-outs. We have to show the five internationals at the back – or whoever we bring to play in the back five – have what it takes to stop goals.
Bolton’s new signing Tim Ream is now available for selection after receiving international clearance. With Owen Coyle particularly scathing of his defence after the weekend defeat at Norwich, a shake-up could be on the cards, meaning the centre-half could be in line for a debut at home to Wigan this weekend. Gretar Steinsson and Joe Riley could also be ready to return but, with Tyrone Mears coming through his first appearance of the season unscathed last weekend, both could find it difficult to break into the first XI.
Reports suggest Jack Rodwell has returned to full training as he battles back from a hamstring problem. The Everton midfielder has had an injury-plagued season, managing just 103 minutes since the end of gameweek 11- his last appearance was in gameweek 20 when he aggravated the same problem and limped off after 19 minutes. With the likes of Darron Gibson impressing alongside Marouane Fellaini, it seems unlikely David Moyes will rush Rodwell back.
Roy Hodgson has admitted that Shane Long is once again a doubt for West Brom’s derby showdown with Wolves. The Irishman has failed to start since gameweek 19 due to back and digestive problems and while his manager revealed he is back in training, he has yet to decide whether to risk him at Molineux, with Marc-Antoine Fortune poised to continue his role alongside Peter Odemwingie:
Shane seems to be making big strides forward. He feels a lot better but he’s had two quite serious knockbacks so we have to unfortunately take it a little bit easier with him. We can’t throw him straight back in there because first it was the back and second it was chest pains. It’s too early to rule him in or out for Wolves.
Graham Dorrans is also a doubt, after a scan on Monday revealed the Scot has a hip problem. Hodgson also explained the recent lack of game time for new signing Liam Ridgewell, saying:
Liam has missed a lot of football. Liam looks like a player who has been out for a long time and hasn’t played many games since he got back. Liam’s had a topsy-turvy season and I don’t think he’s had many starts.
Fulham’s Matthew Briggs has joined Peterborough on loan. The left-back has made just one start under Martin Jol this season and leaves the Cottage on a one-month deal.
Sylvain Marveaux is unsure if he will play again this season as he struggles to overcome a groin problem. The winger has made just one start for Newcastle this term since his summer move from Rennes and has failed to play since gameweek 11 after breaking down with the problem. Speaking to the Newcastle Chronicle, he admitted:
I don’t know if I will play again this season, because I won’t train for two more months. I’m not thinking of playing again. I want to do it step by step. It’s getting better now. I’ll start running next week. The worst – surgery and everything – is behind me, and I just want to be on the pitch. I hope I will train in a couple of months.
