Liverpool are likely to be without Daniel Agger for a month. John Terry is hopeful of a swift recovery after his knee operation. Michel Vorm is expected to return for Swansea this weekend, Chris Brunt could feature against Chelsea, while Wolves are sweating over three key players ahead of Sunday’s trip to Fulham:
Daniel Agger could be out for up to a month for Liverpool. X-rays have confirmed the centre-half sustained a cracked rib in the Carling Cup Final win over Cardiff on Sunday, meaning Agger is almost certain to miss the upcoming double gameweek for Kenny Dalglish’s side. Jamie Carragher is the likely deputy, given that Sebastian Coates has been afforded two starts since joining the club last summer. The Reds haven’t been as tight at the back with Carragher in the first XI, though; they have 3 clean sheets in the 10 games he started, compared to 7 in the other 15.
Glen Johnson, on the other hand, is expected to recover from the hamstring problem that forced the right-back to withdraw from the England squad yesterday. The injury is thought to be very minor, with Johnson’s decision to pull out of the game against Holland more a precautionary measure.
Reports this morning suggest that John Terry hopes to be back within a month after undergoing a knee operation. The Chelsea skipper had previously played through the pain barrier but eventually succumbed to surgery, after pulling out of last week’s training session prior to the Champions League game at Napoli. Terry, who has now missed Chelsea’s last four league games, explained:
The operation went well and I’m feeling really good. The surgeon has shaved off a bit of bone in my right knee that was rubbing and causing a lot of swelling. We’re all confident the operation has solved the problem and it is looking good for a quick return. The medical staff say four to six weeks before I can play again. But, hopefully, it might be sooner.
Darren Fletcher has ruled himself out of the remainder of the season. The United midfielder, currently sidelined with a chronic bowel condition, admitted that while he won’t feature again this term, he is trying every possible measure in order to continue his career:
I’m trying everything under the sun at the moment: diet, hypnotherapy. It’s a week-by-week situation so I’ve not got any timescale on recovery, but the target for me is next season now. If I can come back then, that would be great for me. It’s something that will never leave me but somehow you have to find a way to manage it so that I can still play my football.
Aaron Ramsey is out of Arsenal’s trip to Liverpool this weekend. The midfielder has failed to recover from an ankle problem picked up in the recent FA Cup defeat at Sunderland, meaning Thomas Rosicky is likely to keep his place ahead of the Anfield showdown.
Michel Vorm is on course for a return to action this weekend. The Swansea keeper missed out on last Sunday’s trip to Stoke after picking up a virus but, according to Brendan Rodgers, he should be fit and available for the Welsh club’s visit to Wigan:
He was being sick and everything else, but he has come around well and we hope he will be back in training with us on Wednesday. We think he should be fine for the weekend.
In other Swansea news, Kemy Agustien has underwent ankle surgery yesterday. The midfielder picked up a problem prior to the Gameweek 25 home game with Norwich and, with the operation described as “minor”, he is expected to return to the first-team squad within three to five weeks.
Wolves are assessing injuries to Wayne Hennessey, Dave Edwards and Kevin Doyle, after the trio pulled out of international duty this week. Hennessy picked up an ankle problem towards the end of Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Newcastle, while Edwards and Doyle have knee and hamstring problems respectively. Steven Fletcher has returned to training after missing out last weekend due to a virus, while Sebastien Bassong is in full training after a recent hamstring problem.
Chris Brunt is on course for a return to action this weekend. The Irishman has been sidelined for the previous seven gameweeks after sustaining an ankle injury but, according, to Roy Hodgson, he has now fully recovered, with his lack of match fitness now the only issue ahead of the home game with Chelsea. Hodgson is also hoping Jerome Thomas recovers from a hamstring problem- the winger has helped the Baggies to three wins in his last four appearances but is described as “touch and go” for the Blues clash.
Steven Taylor has targeted a pre-season return for Newcastle. The centre-half’s words have dismissed any notion that he may recover from a ruptured Achilles prior to the end of the current campaign, meaning 4.2 priced Mike Williamson’s place alongside Fabricio Coloccini is all but nailed on at the heart of defence.
Everton reserve manager Alan Stubbs reckons Jack Rodwell and Leon Osman are both on course for first-team returns this weekend. The duo featured for the reserves yesterday, with Osman afforded 45 minutes and Rodwell an hour of the 2-2 draw against Bolton. Both players have been sidelined since limping out of the first match of Everton’s double Gameweek 20 –also against Bolton- but, with David Moyes’ side losing just once in their absence, could perhaps find it tricky to force their way straight back into the first XI.
