James Morrison is set to be sidelined for a number of weeks after sustaining a knee injury against Newcastle on Sunday. Carlos Tevez could start for City on Saturday, while both Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero may return. Anders Lindegaard is uncertain when he will overcome an ankle injury, David Moyes is full of praise for Nikica Jelavic, and Victor Moses could be ready to return this weekend for Wigan, after positive scans on a facial injury sustained at Liverpool.
West Brom are hopeful that James Morrison will return before the end of the season after picking up a knee injury in Sunday’s home defeat by Newcastle. Scans have revealed the midfielder has damaged the medial ligament in his left knee and, while he is expected to be sidelined for weeks, Morrison has already started rehabilitation at the club’s training ground. The club’s head of medical services, Mark Gillett, revealed:
We’ve had positive news on James. We came to the conclusion on Sunday that it would more likely be a medial ligament issue, rather than a cruciate one, but you can’t be 100 per cent sure until the swelling has receded and you get the injury scanned. The outcome means that his rehab period will be more a case of weeks than months and, if all goes to plan, he should be able to play against this season.
Morrison’s absence vacates a role in the hole, with the likes of Chris Brunt perhaps prepared to step up, if Roy Hodgson decides to afford the playmaker a more attacking role in the Baggies midfield. Brunt has mainly filled in on the flanks since recovering from an ankle injury but, with Morrison now sidelined, Hodgson has a ready-made replacement available ahead of next weekend’s trip to Everton.
David De Gea’s Fantasy owners can relax a little after Anders Lindegaard admitted he is uncertain over a likely return date from an ankle problem. The latter had leapt ahead of the summer signing in the pecking order for United, having played five of their six fixtures between Gameweek 17-22 but is set to remain sidelined with the injury, picked up in training back in January. Lindegaard went on to reveal:
Of course I hope to have some involvement in the final part of the season. I want to contribute to winning the championship more than I have done so far. It has been a frustrating time, but that’s how life goes. I don’t know when I will be back, so I just have to keep smiling. It is the worst possible time for anyone to get injured.
Reports today suggest Carlos Tevez could be set to start for City against Sunderland this weekend. With both Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko failing to impress of late, it’s been alleged that City have centred their training plans with a start for Tevez in mind. If the Argentine can cement a starting role, he could prove to be the ultimate end of season differential as City look to chase down United at the top of the table, though a price tag of 11.7 is likely to deter investors, with question marks still against his first-team role right now.
Further reports suggest City could be set to welcome back Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany for the Black Cats’ visit on Saturday. Aguero is on course to recover from the foot problem that forced him out of the trip to Stoke, while Kompany has missed the last three with a calf injury; with City conceding in each of those matches, his absence has been sorely felt. Joleon Lescott may continue to miss out for Roberto Mancini’s men, with rest the only answer to his on-going groin problem.
David Moyes has backed Nikica Jelavic to grab the goals for Everton, with the January signing now beginning to establish himself in the Toffees first-team. Jelavic has bagged two goals in three starts since arriving from Glasgow Rangers and, having overcome injuries, has now featured in Moyes’ first XI in the last two, scoring against Swansea last weekend.
I think he has done quite well. When he came he had a bit of a problem with his stomach and he has missed a few weeks but he has given us something slightly different and scored a couple of goals. It can weigh on you (not scoring) and we have had other centre-forwards here who have found it a struggle to score.
With games against West Brom, Norwich and Sunderland up next, Jelavic – priced at 5.9 – is another forward with the potential to be a decent differential over the last eight gameweeks, as Moyes looks to increase a goal threat that has harvested just 30 goals from 30 games thus far.
Victor Moses could be back in the Wigan lineup this weekend, after scans revealed he has not suffered a fractured jaw. The 5.0 midfielder was subbed off at Anfield following a challenge by Martin Skrtel but Roberto Martinez confirmed the prognosis was positive earlier today:
We got him checked out straight away in the hospital because there was the potential for a fractured bone in his face. The results came back really positive and there was no fracture which allows us to treat him. We will see within the next few days whether he is available for selection on Saturday.
The Latics boss also revealed Hugo Rodallega and Mohamed Diame could be on course for quick returns from knee and groin injuries respectively, with both players to be assessed ahead of the weekend game against Stoke.
Beleaguered Wolves boss Terry Connor received some good injury news regarding his injury-stricken midfield earlier today. Karl Henry, David Davis and Stephen Hunt have all returned to training this week, with Henry confident of a return to the first-team fold in the crucial Molineux encounter against Bolton on Saturday. Connor also revealed he is sweating on the availability of Michael Kightly, after a challenge by Grant Holt forced the winger off with an ankle problem towards the end of the 2-1 defeat at Norwich.
