Vincent Kompany is expected to be out for a fortnight. Michael Dawson’s season is in doubt due to ankle ligament damage. Arsene Wenger sees Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s long-term future in central midfield, United will make a “one or two” changes for Sunday’s game with West Brom, while Steve Kean may be missing a couple of first-team players for the crucial trip to Wolves.
Vincent Kompany is expected to be sidelined for around a fortnight after picking up a calf problem in City’s Europa League trip to Sporting Lisbon last night. The Belgian lasted just seven minutes in Portugal before signalling to the bench that his game was over- he will now miss this weekend’s trip to Swansea and is at risk of being unavailable for the home clash with Chelsea the following gameweek. Roberto Mancini spoke of the injury situation post-match:
We have to wait one or two days to know the exact extent of his injury, but it is a problem with his calf. I hope to have Kompany back in 10 days or two weeks, but we have other solutions.
The loss of his skipper is a bitter blow for Mancini; City’s resilience at the back has been a crucial part of their performances over the last few months, with six clean sheets in the last eight league games. Kompany missed a couple of those clean sheets through injury and suspension, though, and with the likes of Kolo Toure ready to step in alongside Joleon Lescott, Mancini still has strong options at the back. For some Fantasy managers, though, the temptation to transfer out Kompany is strong; with Liverpool’s upcoming double gameweek on the horizon and a strong schedule ahead for United, Spurs and Kenny Dalglish’s side, many are pondering a switch at the back, as City’s fixtures somewhat toughen in comparison.
Spurs have confirmed Michael Dawson sustained ankle ligament damage in Wednesday’s FA Cup win over Stevenage. The centre-half fell awkwardly after an aerial challenge in the 3-1 win and was stretchered off just a few minutes into the game; after undergoing scans, he is expected to be out for 10-12 weeks, with his season now all but over. Dawson’s season has been blighted with injury; indeed, he has started just six league games for the London outfit but his absence only nails-on Younes Kaboul in the heart of Harry Redknapp’s back-four. Priced at 5.5, the Frenchman could prove a cheaper alternative to the full-backs, for those eyeing up Tottenham defenders.
Arsene Wenger reckons Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s long-term future lies in central midfield. While the youngster performed superbly in the role against Milan in midweek, deputising for the injured Mikel Arteta in the 3-0 win, his manager played down Oxlade-Chamberlain’s chances of making an immediate switch from the wing, insisting he still has some way to go in his development before becoming an automatic pick through the middle:
I don’t think he is ready to play in this role personally but he will certainly develop into it in the future. He will play [there] again but I think he has to play where he is needed basically. The most important thing at the moment is that he develops well. He had a good game but he still has many things to add to his game. That is the purpose now for his work, especially the fitness, the physical intensity to add to his game.
Ahead of Monday’s match against Newcastle, Wenger also revealed Arteta and Aaron Ramsey should be back in the squad, Theo Walcott should be ok after suffering a hip knock against Milan, Kieran Gibbs has a chance of recovering from a groin problem, while the Arsenal boss “doesn’t know†if Yossi Benayoun will make it.
Sir Alex Ferguson will check on Chris Smalling’s fitness before naming his side for Sunday’s game with West Brom. The centre-half was forced off against Athletic Bilbao last night after his head wound re-opened and, with United now chasing a 3-2 deficit going into next week’s second leg against the Spanish outfit, Smalling’s availability may determine whether Rio Ferdinand starts against the Baggies. Ferguson admitted the latter’s experience will be crucial to the European game, going on to say:
I’ll make one or two changes. Scholes is available and so are Nani and Rio Ferdinand to get the freshness back in. Rio is such a great player and he has great experience. It depends on Chris Smalling. His stitches came open in the first half. We thought we’d patched them up at half time but they came open again. It’s a possibility. I will maybe gamble with a couple on Sunday for Thursday’s game.
Steve Kean has a couple of injury worries ahead of Blackburn’s crucial trip to Wolves this weekend. David Dunn – scorer of Rovers’ equaliser against Villa last week – is struggling to overcome a virus, while Bradley Orr has picked up a hamstring strain. Kean admitted the latter is “touch and go†for the Molineux trip, after undergoing scans on the problem.
Chelsea’s match with Man City has been rescheduled for Wednesday March 21, affording both clubs a fixture in Gameweek 29. The game was in doubt after the Blues knocked Birmingham out of the FA Cup on Tuesday, but the Premier League has moved quickly to allocate a new slot- we have now updated our fixture ticker as a result.
