Itβs a tricky weekend for Fantasy managers. The upcoming FA Cup Sixth Round almost gives us as much concern as the four league fixtures over Saturday and Sunday themselves, with seven teams in action before the gameweek resumes in midweek. While the likes of Spurs and Chelsea could be ready to rotate ahead, sides such as Sunderland and Everton will be keen to field stronger lineups, with David Moyes particularly determined to atone for the Mersyeside derby defeat at Liverpool last Tuesday evening:
Moyes was typically vague ahead of the weekend home tie against Sunderland this morning. While Steven Pienaar is cup-tied for the Toffees and Darron Gibson remains sidelined with a knee problem, the Everton boss revealed he has a couple of concerns though, as usual, refused to name names:
We picked up a couple of niggling injuries from the game in midweek. I’ll need to see if they’re going to be fit and available for the game. We’re not sure yet, but we’ll wait and see.
Tony Pulis yesterday confirmed Thomas Sorensen will be in goal for this Sundayβs FA Cup trip to Liverpool. With the Potters boss keeping one keeper for cup competitions and one for the league, it seems to underline the fact that Asmir Begovic has jumped ahead of the Dane in the pecking order for top-flight matches. Pulis spoke more on the situation, going on to concede:
The great thing about the last couple of weeks is that Asmir’s come into the team and played really well. He’d had a spell in the team just before he was left out where he looked a little bit tired, a bit jaded and made a few mistakes. But he’s come back in refreshed and looked the part, and he deserves to be playing in the league. Now Thomas gets his chance.
With three matches in the next seven days, Owen Coyle has admitted heβll make a couple of changes for Boltonβs FA Cup clash with Spurs. The Trotters boss looks likely to prioritise the upcoming league clashes against Villa and Blackburn as he plots his sideβs bid for survival and with the likes of Marvin Sordell cup tied and Chris Eagles struggling with a hamstring strain, Coyle looks set to utilise his squad for the clash against Harry Redknappβs side this Saturday.
David Luiz has revealed he is struggling to overcome an ankle problem ahead of Chelseaβs FA Cup game against Leicester. The centre-half admitted he played through the pain barrier in Wednesdayβs Champions League win over Napoli and with John Terry failing to finish the match, the pair could well be two of several changes Roberto Di Matteo makes this weekend, with Wednesdayβs league game at City also in his thinking.
Ryan Taylor and Cheik Tiote are continuing to be assessed ahead of Newcastleβs match with Norwich on Sunday. The former missed last Mondayβs trip to Arsenal due to a calf problem, while the Magpies midfield enforcer limped out of the Emirates clash holding his thigh, with Alan Pardew hopeful Tioteβs problem was no more than cramp.
Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to point out the importance of Sundayβs trip to Wolves in last nightβs Europa League press conference. While magnanimous in defeat, with United beaten in both legs by Athletic Bilbao, Ferguson quickly turned his attentions to domestic duties, indicating his thoughts are firmly on establishing a four point lead over City this weekend:
Obviously we now have to make sure we win on Sunday against Wolverhampton Wanderers. We decided to take off Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and, eventually, Ryan Giggs because we have to think about Sunday.
While the Mail and Mirror both suggest Wayne Rooney is nursing a knock, Unitedβs official site published an article on the possible doubts for the Wolves game earlier this morning- Rooney was not mentioned, suggesting heβs on course to continue his remarkable run of goalscoring form this weekend.
In his early morning Friday press conference, Paul Lambert announced new boy Johnny Howson has recovered from illness and is available for Norwich this weekend. While Daniel Ayala and Marc Tierney both remain sidelined, the pair are expected to return to training next week. James Vaughan is still on the road to recovery.
