Spurs fear the worst after Michael Dawson is stretchered off against Stevenage. Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson are back in training for Liverpool ahead of the double Gameweek. United’s injury worries are beginning to ease up, Kieran Richardson is a doubt for Sunderland, while Roger Johnson’s future at Wolves is perhaps in doubt after “a breach of club discipline”.
Michael Dawson looks likely to be ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering suspected knee and ankle ligament damage in Spurs’ FA Cup win over Stevenage last night. The Spurs skipper –who has missed the vast majority of the current campaign due to an Achilles injury- fell awkwardly on his leg after an aerial challenge and was stretchered off after just eight minutes. Post-match, Harry Redknapp offered a depressing assessment:
Michael has gone to hospital. It was his ankle and his knee. He has a pretty bad injury there. Looking at his injury it would be a miracle to think he is not (out for the season).
Luckily for Redknapp, William Gallas recovered sufficiently from a recent calf injury to be afforded a place on the bench last night, though with no game time in the past two months, is unlikely to be rushed back into action. With Ledley King’s knee problems assessed on an almost-weekly basis, 5.5 priced Younes Kaboul looks nailed on at the heart of defence and may prove a cheaper alternative to the likes of left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto, at 6.2, over the London outfit’s strong upcoming schedule.
The Tottenham boss also revealed concerns over the fitness of Aaron Lennon, after the winger was subbed off in the first half with another hamstring problem. Lennon has been plagued with the issues for most of the season and has featured just five times since Gameweek 16; another spell on the sidelines is likely to mean further game time for Niko Krancjar, though Rafael Van der Vaart could drop back to the wing if Redknapp opts for two out and out strikers up front.
Kenny Dalglish has revealed both Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson returned to training today. The pair missed out on Saturday’s home defeat to Arsenal after picking up hamstring problems with the England squad last week, but could be on course for a return ahead of the Reds’ double Gameweek, affording Fantasy managers further options to mull over. The Liverpool boss was somewhat non-committal on their chances of recovery, saying :
Steven and Glen are back in training today, so we’ll see how they are. It’s a good boost for us to have anybody back, Steven included. Having Glen back as well, who was doing fantastic, will be good for us. We’ll see how they do in training and judge it from there
Sir Alex Ferguson expects Anders Lindegaard to be fit and available for selection in the next three weeks. The Denmark international had just broken into the Red Devils first team on a regular basis when he injured an ankle in training. It has ruled Lindegaard out since the end of January, offering David de Gea the chance to re-establish himself as United’s number one. De Gea has snapped up that opportunity with a series of improved performances, suggesting that even when Lindegaard is fit again, he will find it doubly difficult to re-establish himself as Ferguson’s first-choice stopper.
The United boss also took time out to dismiss any suggestions over Paul Scholes’ lack of availability. The veteran missed training yesterday ahead of the Europa League match against Athletic Bilbao but his manager admitted the absence was no more than a rest:
We just gave Paul a day off. We gave him a rest. He was indoors. Paul and Ryan [Giggs] don’t train every day. We give them certain days of
Ferguson also revealed the injury situation is clearing for United. Anderson is expected to feature this evening, Tom Cleverley has returned to first-team training, while Antonio Valencia is due back from his hamstring problems on Monday.
Kieran Richardson is a major doubt for Sunderland this weekend, after picking up a calf injury in last weekend’s draw at Newcastle. The former United man has played all but one game since Martin O’Neill’s arrival on Wearside, missing the Gameweek 19 match with Man City through illness but, having undergone a scan on the muscle, is a concern for the visit of Liverpool. Richardson’s absence would likely afford on loan Wayne Bridge a chance at left-back. Elsewhere in the Black Cats’ defence, John O’Shea is set to play through the pain barrier with a broken hand, while both Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Kieran Westwood are sidelined with foot and wrist problems respectively.
Abou Diaby reckons he’ll be back in 10 day time after sustaining yet another injury. The Frenchman –on as a sub for the injured Mikel Arteta at Anfield last Saturday- lasted just 27 minutes before being subbed off himself, after picking up a hamstring problem. Diaby had previously played a mere 22 minutes in the league so far this season but expects to be back running this weekend, meaning he is ruled out of Monday’s match with Newcastle.
David Moyes has admitted he is looking to integrate Ross Barkley back into the Everton first team squad over the next month or so. The promising youngster had played the Toffees first three league games of the season and was expected by many to push on as a regular but, in order to ensure the player was afforded plenty game time, his manager opted to play him in the reserves and youth team:
My intention is to reintroduce Ross back into the first-team squad and my idea was always to do it around April time. I’ve told the boy what my thoughts were. I think he needed six months of games- he’s not been ready to play in the team. But there are certainly signs that he is getting better now. I think it was for his own good. We’ve tried to get as many games into him as possible because he missed a year and a half of football prior to that. He’s missed so much football and now I’m looking to reintroduce him again towards the end of the season, when I think it’s a bit easier to do.
Roger Johnson’s future at Wolves may be in doubt after reports suggest he turned up for training on Monday morning while under the influence of alcohol. Johnson-who missed just 73 minutes of Mick McCarthy’s 25 games in charge- has failed to feature in the two matches under new boss Terry Connor, with Richard Stearman and Christophe Berra the interim manager’s preferred central defensive pairing. Wolves released a statement earlier this morning confirming their captain has been punished for his indiscretions. With a crucial home game against Blackburn up next, his chances of featuring look highly unlikely.
