Nani could be ready for a return to action tomorrow evening. Jack Wilshere may be back in a month’s time. Ryan Taylor reveals he is on course for a quick recovery from an ankle problem, David Moyes receives some positive news on the injury front, while Pavel Pogrebnyak plays down fears of a foot injury:
Nani is on the brink of a return to action this week. The winger hasn’t played since limping out of the Gameweek 22 win over Arsenal with an ankle problem but, having been treated by Portugal national team doctor Antonio Gaspar, he has now returned to Manchester and is hopeful of appearing in United’s Europa League clash with Ajax on Wednesday. The winger was named in the squad for the clash this morning, as was Chris Smalling and Phil Jones- Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra and Dimitar Berbatov were surprise omissions.
Arsene Wenger reckons Jack Wilshere could be back in a month’s time for Arsenal. The midfielder, who has yet to play this season for the Gunners, suffered a setback in his recovery last month, with some reports even suggesting he may not feature before the end of the campaign. Wenger, on the other hand, was in optimistic mood yesterday, explaining:
Jack can be back within a month if all goes well. The recovery of his latest problems looks very good. The latest scan was very positive. We go cautiously step-by-step because we tried to push him back quicker in the first instance and he had a setback. So this time we have to be cautious and not go too quick. He can be back before then end of the season, of course.
Ryan Taylor has tweeted this morning that he expects to be available for Newcastle’s Gameweek 26 clash with Wolves. Taylor, of course, hasn’t played since a Stephen Warnock challenge saw him removed just after the half hour mark in the 2-1 win over Villa a couple of weeks ago but, having undergone a successful scan earlier today, has revealed:
Happy Days. Buzzing I’m back for Wolves. Thanks for all the messages. Off to training now.
Everton pair Seamus Coleman and Ross Barkley stepped up their respective recoveries from injury with a run out for the reserves yesterday. While Barkley has featured for the youth team in recent weeks and has also been an unused sub in the Toffees’ recent games against City and Chelsea, Coleman hasn’t played since Gameweek 17. The Irishman’s return will be a significant boost for David Moyes; with Landon Donovan’s loan deal almost at an end, the Merseysiders will be keen to bolster their options on the right side of midfield upon the American’s departure.
The Everton boss received more good news on the injury front, with Phil Jagielka revealing he is stepping up his recovery from a knee problem. With a blank Gameweek 26 meaning they have league games until the 3rd March, Jagielka and Leon Osman could both be in the frame for a return, according to the centre-half:
I am out of the brace and starting to do more in training as well. I have had Ossie for company which has been good and we’ll hopefully be stepping it up in the next couple of weeks. I am getting there. We are itching to get back.
Reports suggest Carlos Tevez’s hopes of a return to action for Man City may still be remote. The Argentine’s recent criticism of Roberto Mancini in an interview with Fox Sports has not been received kindly by those in charge at the Etihad, with the possibility of yet another club fine imposed for his behaviour. Unless he issues a public apology, Tevez’s chances look likely to remain slim.
Pavel Pogrebnyak has played down any injury fears after a foot problem saw him subbed off on 61 minutes in his Fulham debut. The Russian admitted he expects to return to action without any problems, saying :
I twisted my foot a little bit. I wanted to go back but I understood that I can’t be useful 100 per cent for my team. In Germany my same foot was injured but this time nothing serious happened. My foot swelled a bit but I’m sure it will be alright.
Sebastien Bassong hopes to be back in time for Wolves’ game at Newcastle in Gameweek 26. The on-loan centre-half was subbed off on the hour mark against West Brom with a suspected hamstring injury but revealed on twitter than he has since had a positive scan and is confident of recovering in time for the trip to Tyneside. The club confirmed the situation this morning, with Steve Kemp, head of the medical department, saying:
The scan has revealed a grade one strain and Sebastien has started his rehabilitation at Compton. We’ll see how he progresses but if he makes a good recovery he’ll have a chance of being available for the trip to Newcastle.
DJ Campbell has suffered a recurrence of a hamstring problem in training. The QPR forward was on the mend from the injury –picked up in Gameweek 22 against Wigan- but is now expected to be out for another six weeks for Mark Hughes’ side. Campbell’s season for the London outfit has been blighted by injury, with just two starts all season and, with the likes of Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cisse ahead of him in the pecking order, could well find it difficult to see any more game time over the remainder of the season.
Norwich’s forgotten forward James Vaughan netted for the reserves yesterday as he continues his comeback from a knee injury. The former Everton man has had a difficult first season at Carrow Road and played just 48 minutes game time before damaging ligaments in the Gameweek 6 win over Sunderland. This was Vaughan’s second reserve showing in the last couple of weeks and, given Paul Lambert’s penchant for rotation, he could soon be pressing for an appearance in the Canaries first-team squad over the next month or so, providing his comeback continues smoothly.
