David Moyes is full of praise for Royston Drenthe. The injury doubts rack up for Arsenal ahead of tonight’s game with Milan. Pablo Zabaleta is set to be sidelined with a hamstring problem, Darren Bent undergoes successful ankle surgery, while Swansea decide against appealing Nathan Dyer’s three-match ban:
David Moyes has been praising Royston Drenthe ahead of Everton’s upcoming double gameweek. The Dutchman has been a source of frustration for Fantasy managers this term –he has started two games in a row only twice in the current campaign- but last week saw him rewarded a role on the right for the Toffees against QPR. Drenthe grabbed a goal at QPR and, with Landon Donovan back in the US after the completion of his loan deal, he looks set to battle Seamus Coleman for a chance on the flank. With Steven Pienaar also unavailable to play against parent club Spurs, Drenthe is seeing a fair amount of Fantasy investment ahead of next week and his manager admits he’s starting to earn his trust:
It’s taken him time to settle. He came from Real Madrid and you think they will come and understand what we do here. But they don’t straight away. There’s a lot more of the defensive side of the game we need him to be part of. He can’t just do what he wants. He’s beginning to do a bit better and can do much better. He has that ability to score, to create a chance. We’re beginning to trust him much more now.
Arsene Wenger revealed Arsenal have plenty injury worries ahead of tonight’s Champions League game against Milan. Four-nil down from the first leg, the Gunners need something of a miracle at the Emirates if they are to overcome the deficit but will be short of midfield options tonight. Yossi Benayoun is out through illness, Abou Diaby has picked up a hamstring problem and Mikel Arteta needs a week’s rest after his head knock at Anfield last weekend. Thomas Rosicky is also a doubt for Wenger in the middle of the park, while Kieran Gibbs is struggling to overcome a groin problem. The Arsenal boss revealed no players will be rested as he attempts to haul back the Italians’ lead, with Robin Van Persie set to lead the line against the Serie A leaders.
Pablo Zabaleta is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury in City’s weekend win over Bolton. The full-back limped out of the proceedings with less than 20 minutes on the clock and with Micah Richards also injured, Kolo Toure stepped in to replace the Argentine at right-back. Richards’ Fantasy owners have been stung by Roberto Mancini’s recent rotation policy, which saw the right-back rested in Gameweek 25 and 26 and, despite Zabaleta’s upcoming absence, Toure’s versatility and experience during the title run-in could well see the Ivorian play a part in Mancini’s thinking over the vital final third of the season.
Darren Bent has undergone surgery on his injured ankle. The forward, who ruptured ligaments in the Gameweek 26 match at Wigan, is expected to return to full training in around 12 weeks’ time, according to Aston Villa. With the club struggling to find the net –just a single goal in their last three- young forward Andreas Weimann scored yet again for the reserves yesterday. Weimann bagged a couple of hat-tricks for Villa’s second string last week and was drafted into the first-team squad for the trip to Blackburn. Alex McLeish afforded him a single minute at Ewood Park but with Gabby Agbonlahor continuing to misfire, Weimann may be set for more game time over the next fortnight, with Fulham and Bolton both rolling up to Villa Park.
Swansea have decided against appealing the red card handed out to Nathan Dyer in the weekend win at Wigan. The winger received a three-match ban for a challenge on Jordi Gomez but, while the Welsh club view the decision as “extremely harsh”, they feel that an appeal could run the risk of an extension to the ban. Dyer will now miss games against City, Fulham and Everton and will not be available for selection until April 1- Wayne Routledge is odds-on to replace him on the flank, with the latter finding himself out of favour lately, having managed a mere 21 minutes gametime over the Swans’ last five matches.
Reports suggest Ashley Cole is a doubt for Chelsea’s FA Cup replay at Birmingham this evening. The left-back is said to have picked up the problem in Saturday’s 1-0 loss at West Brom and will be assessed prior to the St Andrews showdown.
