Carlos Tevez helps City’s reserves to a win over Bolton. John Terry returns to the Chelsea squad ahead of schedule. Jack Rodwell and Phil Jagielka step up their recoveries ahead of Everton’s double gameweek, Victor Moses insists Roberto Martinez was right to drop him last weekend, while Paul Scholes is reported to have missed training for United this morning:
Carlos Tevez continued to build up his fitness as he turned out out for Man City’s reserves yesterday. The Argentine grabbed City’s first in a 3-1 win over Bolton before being subbed off with 20 minutes of the game remaining. Tevez managed 45 minutes for the second string last week- clearly, then, his fitness is building week by week but right now, he still appears to be some way off a return to first-team action, as Roberto Mancini affords him a platform in City’s second string before considering Tevez for league duties.
John Terry was on the bench for Chelsea last night, just two weeks after undergoing knee surgery. The Blue skipper was expected to be out for 4-6 weeks after an investigative operation but has returned quicker than anticipated. He was an unused sub in his side’s 2-0 FA Cup replay win over Birmingham last night but, according to Roberto Di Matteo, is available for action once again:
John has done very well and is determined to help the club, and we’re pleased to see him. He’s available. We have to take him with small steps because he’s done well to come back in just over two weeks. But it was good to see him.
Di Matteo sprung something of a surprise in terms of lineup, with Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien all joining Terry on the bench. Many had expected the interim boss to install the likes of Lampard back into the first team following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas, but he instead opted for a 4-2-3-1, with Salomon Kalou wide left, Ramires wide right, and Juan Mata tucked in behind Fernando Torres. Mata missed yet another spot-kick, having fluffed his chances in the first game at Stamford Bridge, but with both Lampard and Drogba on the bench at the time, the Spaniard still looks to be at least third in line for penalties. Ashley Cole missed out in the St Andrews win, having failed to recover from an ankle problem. Ryan Bertrand took his place at left-back, though the former is expected to be available for the home clash with Stoke on Saturday.
Jack Rodwell and Phil Jagielka both managed 90 minutes for Everton’s reserves yesterday. The pair haven’t featured for the first-team since limping out of the first match of double gameweek 20 back in January but, having recovered from knee and hamstring injuries respectively, could be on the verge of a first-team return.Reports suggest the likeliest date is the FA Cup clash with Sunderland on March 17, with David Moyes perhaps reluctant to rush either back, with his side’s six-match unbeaten league run –including wins over City and Chelsea- indicative of the Toffees form right now.
Victor Moses admitted Roberto Martinez made the right decision in starting him from the bench last weekend against Swansea. The Wigan managers’ decision was publicly questioned by chairman Dave Whelan after the match, with Mohamed Diame and Hugo Rodallega also listed amongst the subs in the 2-0 home loss. Moses –who had started every one of the Latics league matches prior to last weekend- sprung to his manager’s defence, conceding that his midweek international commitments had left him fatigued:
I was feeling tired after being away with Nigeria. I’d done a lot of travelling in a short space of time- the fans probably don’t realise that travelling so far for a game in midweek really does take it out of you, out of your legs especially. A couple of the other lads were the same – only getting back on Friday evening – and when you’re going out with tired legs, that’s when you’re risking getting injuries – which the gaffer is trying to prevent.
Reports suggest both Paul Scholes and Michael Owen missed training this morning for United ahead of tomorrow’s Europa League home clash with Athletic Bilbao. Chris Smalling has returned to full training after recovering from his recent head knock sustained in England’s friendly defeat to Holland, while Antonio Valencia did some light running away from the first-team squad.
Karl Henry has been ruled out for 3-4 weeks after scans revealed he has picked up a hamstring injury. The midfielder was subbed off early in the 5-0 hammering at Fulham and, with Terry Connor also admitting Dave Edwards is “probably†out of this weekend’s crucial home clash with Blackburn, David Davis has been recalled from a loan spell with Chesterfield on Monday. Connor revealed he will have no qualms over throwing Davis straight into action against Rovers if necessary:
He’s ready and he’s training well, so if I think he’s ready to play in our first team, that’s where he has to play. He deserves to come back, and, if we’re light in midfield, we’ll consider him.
