International friendly week always fills Fantasy managers with dread. Already, we’ve seen a number of call-offs; the likes of Papiss Cisse, Didier Drogba, Rafael Van der Vaart and Phil Bardsley are all nursing apparent injuries ahead of the weekend. Elsewhere, Peter Odemwingie, Mark Schwarzer and Javier Hernandez have long-distance games on the agenda. All we can do now is watch on, cross our fingers, and hope none of our best-laid plans are scuppered:
Rafael Van der Vaart is one of a number of players to withdraw from international action. While most of the absentees could be classified as no more than precautionary, the Dutch FA confirmed Van der Vaart picked up an ankle injury at the Emirates on Sunday, and has been ruled out of Holland’s friendly with England tomorrow. Van der Vaart has only just returned from a calf problem, playing the second half in the 5-2 defeat at Arsenal- Harry Redknapp is likely to be cautious this weekend against United, for fear of further time on the sidelines for the Dutchman.
Redknapp has more injury worries, with the news that Kyle Walker has withdrawn from the England squad after he, too, picked up an ankle problem at Arsenal. With Vedran Corluka farmed out on loan, the Spurs boss has recalled Adam Smith from a loan spell at Leeds, perhaps raising question marks over Walker’s availability for this weekend’s home clash against the champions.
Newcastle have confirmed Papiss Demba Cisse picked up a slight groin injury in the 2-2 draw with Wolves. The forward was subbed off just after the hour mark with the problem and has since pulled out of Senegal’s game against South Africa, having been assessed by the club’s medical staff ahead of Sunday’s derby with Sunderland.
Didier Drogba is out of Ivory Coast’s friendly with Guinea. The Chelsea forward picked up a knee problem in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Bolton and is now undergoing treatment, with the Blues medical department monitoring his progress ahead of the trip to West Brom.
Aaron Ramsey has been ruled out of the Gary Speed Memorial match tomorrow evening. The Arsenal man was due to skipper Wales against Costa Rica but has failed to recover from an ankle injury picked up in the FA Cup defeat at Sunderland earlier this month.
Stephen Kelly has pulled out of the Republic of Ireland squad with a thigh problem. The right-back played the entire match in Fulham’s win at QPR on Saturday and has now established himself as an integral part of Martin Jol’s back-four, starting the last nine game for the Cottagers.
Phil Bardsley may miss out for Sunderland this weekend. The full-back has withdrawn from the Scotland squad due to a calf problem, with reports suggesting he may have torn the muscle. Bardsley is set for scans ahead of his side’s trip to Newcastle- his omission could perhaps see John O’Shea move from the centre to right-back, with Matt Kilgallon coming into the heart of defence.
Glen Johnson has, this afternoon, become the fifth player to pull out of the England squad to face Holland. The right-back is said to have trained this morning but then reported an unspecified “minor problem“ and will head back to Anfield to be assessed.
Daniel Agger has ruled himself out of contention for Denmark’s game against Russia tomorrow. The centre-half is feared to have sustained a broken rib in the Carling Cup win over Cardiff and, although there has been no official confirmation of a definite absence, his withdrawal will give his Fantasy owners cause for concern, particularly with Liverpool’s double gameweek just around the corner.
Alan Hutton is making his way back to Aston Villa after pulling out of the Scotland squad to face Slovenia. The right-back is said to have suffered pain in the top of his hamstring and, after being assessed by the Scotland doctors, has been sent back to the midlands for further examination.
Elsewhere, a handful of players face extended travel periods this midweek. Javier Hernandez turns out for Mexico at 1am Thursday in a home clash against Colombia. With United not playing until Sunday, though, his Fantasy owners will be hopeful the forward will have enough recovery time to feature in the trip to White Hart Lane.
Victor Moses and Peter Odemwingie feature for Nigeria, as the Super Eagles travel to Rwanda in an African Cup of Nations qualifier on Wednesday. Wigan keeper Ali Al-Habsi plays for Oman in a crucial World Cup qualifier against Thailand at 9.30am Wednesday and should have enough in the tank to be ready for Saturday’s game with Swansea.
Bolton’s on-loan star Ryo Miyaichi is set for his Japan debut against Uzbekistan at 10.30 tomorrow morning. Mark Schwarzer faces a home game for Australia against Saudi Arabia- this kicks off at 09.30 tomorrow morning and, with Fulham not playing till Sunday, their keeper looks to have plenty recovery time ahead of the home game with Wolves.
Finally, a little domestic news. Alex McLeish has talked up the prospects of Andreas Weimann after the youngster produced a series of outstanding displays in the Villa reserves. Weimann has grabbed two hat tricks in his last three games, with McLeish describing him as “one of the most natural finishers I have seen for quite some time.”
With Darren Bent likely to be ruled out for the season after rupturing ankle ligaments in the weekend draw at Wigan, Robbie Keane back in the US after his loan deal finished and Gabby Agbonlahor having only scored once since Gameweek 7, McLeish is in dire need of a goalscorer. Weimann –priced at a mere 5.0- may be on course for a first-team start ahead of a run of games that reads (bla, FUL, BOL) over the next three gameweeks.
Arsene Wenger’s post-match comments on Theo Walcott after the 5-2 win over Spurs were revealing. Admitting he had considered subbing off the winger after a section of the crowd began to criticise Walcott’s performance, Wenger explained he kept faith, as he feels that the winger’s style of play is unique amongst the Arsenal squad:
I felt that he has the qualities that, considering the rest of the team, are highly needed. He is a player who can be straight and go behind the defenders – nobody else is like that. He is a very direct player, he can sometimes miss a first touch but considering the balance of the team I thought it was important to keep him in the side.
Wenger’s line of thinking, in spite of the calls for Walcott’s exclusion, suggests he will not bow to pressure and is likely to lead to reduced game time for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. With Gervinho still being eased back into action after his African Cup of Nations exertions, Yossi Benayoun was given the nod ahead of the youngster on the left and with Walcott vindicating Wenger’s decision with a double against their north London rivals, Oxlade Chamberlain’s 5.4% owners may be set for a testing time ahead.
Reports suggest Tom Cleverley may return to action next week for Man United. The midfielder limped out of the Europa League loss to Ajax on Thursday with an ankle problem but scans have revealed there is no serious problem, meaning Cleverley could come back against Atletico Bilbao in the next round of European action.
Carlos Tevez returned to action for Man City this afternoon, as the Argentine steps up his fitness after months on the sidelines. Tevez started for City’s reserves in the 3-1 defeat by Preston but failed to make any impact before being subbed off at half time.
