Richard Dunne is out for a couple of months for Villa. Roberto Mancini hints at a return for Carlos Tevez. Thomas Vermaelen is frustrated at left-back, Harry Redknapp sings the praises of Louis Saha, while an angry Owen Coyle promises changes to the Bolton first XI for the trip to Chelsea:
Richard Dunne has been ruled out for up to eight weeks for Aston Villa. The centre-half fractured his collarbone after falling awkwardly in yesterday’s 1-0 defeat by City and is due to undergo an operation today. Dunne has played every minute of the season so far for the midlands outfit and his loss will be a significant one for Alex McLeish. It’s likely to afford Carlos Cuellar a chance alongside James Collins in the heart of the back-four; the Spaniard filled in for Collins recently but moved to left-back against City upon the Welshman’s return.
McLeish received more bad news on the injury front, when it was revealed Ciaran Clark has been sidelined for up to a month after twisting his left knee in training. The Villa boss will be able to call on the services of Chris Herd for the Gameweek 26 clash with Wigan- the club confirmed today he has returned to full training and will be available for the Latics game.
Steve Kean has revealed Chris Samba will miss out on Blackburn’s reserve game with Wigan this evening. Although scans have revealed the Rovers skipper has not suffered a tear on his injured hamstring, he won’t be risked and will instead focus on returning to full training. Given Samba’s recent problems with the club, he may it difficult to come straight back into the first-team for the Gameweek 26 match with City, after Kean described the displays of central defensive duo Scott Dann and Grant Hanley against QPR as “exceptional”.
Wolves’ decision to sack Mick McCarthy may see a first-team shake-up. McCarthy has been mainly playing a 4-5-1, with Steven Fletcher as a lone striker, but the likes of Kevin Doyle could come back into the equation if a new manager opts for two up front. Given that they have failed to return a clean sheet since Gameweek 3, it’s obvious that problems at the back need immediate address, too.
Thomas Vermaelen has admitted he is becoming frustrated at playing left-back for Arsenal. The Belgian has been filling in due to the absence of Kieran Gibbs and Andre Santos, with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny fielded at centre-half for the Gunners. According to the People, Vermaelen has said:
I am fed up playing at left-back. I don’t think I am good there – I want to achieve my highest level and I can’t do that on the left. I play there to help the team but it gives me no satisfaction as I can’t reach my best standard. I do my job but seldom feel content after matches. If the team wins I am happy, but it remains frustrating.
Harry Redknapp has talked up the potential of Louis Saha, after the Frenchman’s explosive home debut at the weekend. The former Everton man grabbed 2 goals and an assist and, with 2 bonus points thrown in, returned 15 points for his 2% of Fantasy owners. Saha’s injury history will always make him no more than a Fantasy gamble but, with his new boss clearly delighted with his impact, could be set for more game time than perhaps anticipated. With Emmanuel Adebayor pretty much nailed-on and Rafael Van der Vaart tending to start when fit, Redknapp’s praise perhaps not quite what the likes of Jermain Defoe would want to hear.
Roberto Mancini yesterday admitted he could yet turn to the talents of Carlos Tevez as City attempt to solidify their lead at the top of the table. With just thirteen games remaining, Mancini’s side have a two-point advantage over United but have been reliant on their home form to boost their title bid. Despite a 100% home record, they have faltered on the road over the last couple of months and, with just 2 wins and 4 goals in their last seven away games, an upturn in attacking performances looks essential if they are to take the title.
A possible Tevez return, then, in addition to Mario Balotelli’s availability after a four-match ban, may lessen the appeal of the likes of Sergio Aguero- many have earmarked the latter as potential captaincy material for the next two gameweeks (BLA, BOL). However, in a translated interview on twitter earlier this afternoon, Tevez didn’t seem too friendly when talking about Mancini and with the City boss expecting an apology before he considers allowing the player to return, it’s perhaps too early to suggest he will definitely play a part.
Owen Coyle has defended his decision to revert to a 4-4-2 formation against Wigan last weekend. The Trotters boss has tended to field a 4-5-1 but, a return to the system that won away to the Latics in Gameweek 8, with Kevin Davies re-installed to the starting line-up for the first time in nine matches, saw them downed 2-1 at the Reebok. A furious Coyle revealed post-match that changes will now be made for the Gameweek 26 trip to Chelsea, saying:
It’s individual errors that have cost us, and nothing else. Coming off the back of a poor defensive display last week, it has happened again, but I have got enough personnel now to make changes and that’s what is going to happen. I’m not going to sit through that again.
