Richard Dunne returns to training for Aston Villa. James Collins is almost definitely out for the midlanders’ game with Bolton, though Gabby Agbonlahor faces a late fitness test. Mark Davies is a doubt for the Trotters. Arsene Wenger looks to Abou Diaby to solve the Gunners’ midfield problems, while Wigan could be faced with a striker shortage for their last three games of the season…
Alex McLeish received some positive news on the injury front earlier today, as Richard Dunne returned to training for Villa. The centre-half has failed to feature since Gameweek 25 after sustaining a shoulder injury in the 1-0 home defeat to former club City but is on course for a comeback prior to the end of the season. The Villa boss revealed earlier today:
It’s good news regarding Richard. He has rejoined the group for training today. If he doesn’t make the game at West Brom this weekend, he should be ready for the Tottenham match. With a guy like Dunnie, and with what the modern day physical trainers and medical people do, the aim is to try and get the player up to speed so he can go straight back into the side. There should be plenty of preparation work for Dunnie so he can step straight back in.
McLeish failed to confirm team news ahead of tomorrow night’s game with Bolton, though reports have suggested James Collins is unavailable after the centre-half limped out of Villa’s goalless draw with Sunderland with a groin injury at the weekend. His absence would likely afford Alan Hutton a way back into McLeish’s first-team plans; the Scot was dropped from the starting line-up last weekend, with Carlos Cuellar beginning the game at right-back, but Collins’ injury saw Hutton climb off the bench, with Cuellar shifting to central defence alongside Nathan Baker.
Gabby Agbonlahor faces a late fitness test to the shoulder injury that forced him off just after half time against the Black Cats. Despite having failed to score since Gameweek 11, over 42,000 Fantasy managers transferred him in last week – his absence will afford Emile Heskey a chance to partner Andreas Weimann up top tomorrow.
Mark Davies is a doubt for Bolton’s trip to Villa tomorrow evening after missing training today with a leg problem. The midfielder was drafted in by over 5,000 Fantasy managers prior to his double Gameweek 35 but picked up just two points in the weekend draw with Swansea – Owen Coyle revealed in this morning’s press conference he has a couple of midfield worries, with Josh Vela being considered for a start as the Trotters head to the midlands in search of a vital three points:
“We’ve got one or two concerns for Tuesday night. Mark won’t train today because we don’t want to risk aggravating it further. We are hoping he will be okay but he remains touch-and-go. Darren Pratley missed out at the weekend with a virus, and I think he has little or no chance of being involved against Villa. Darren has tried to do a bit running but still felt dizzy. He has got better but not to an extent where he can get about for 90 minutes in a Barclays Premier League match.
Arsene Wenger has talked up the chances of Abou Diaby over the remaining three matches of the season. The absence of Mikel Arteta is a bitter blow for the Gunners – they have picked up just one point in the four matches he has missed since joining in August – and, with the Spaniard out for the campaign due to ankle problem, Wenger is hoping Diaby can make a significant impact in the upcoming games against (stk, NOR, wba). With his central midfield options limited, the Arsenal boss fielded Tomas Rosicky against Chelsea on Saturday, despite the fact that the Czech star was suffering from a virus – a fact that Wenger revealed post-match:
I hope he (Diaby) can play an important role in midfield but I am a bit cautious because he only played 25 minutes. But in the last three games I hope he can help us. Rosicky, in fairness, was not even supposed to play. He woke up sick. We forced him basically to play and he wanted to and he is still lying on a medical bench now. I am grateful because he wasn’t well and he still played and gave everything. At some stage he told us, ‘Look, I cannot play any more. To miss Arteta and Rosicky at the moment is just too much on the creative side of our game. Even Arteta being out is enough for us already.
Roberto Martinez is sweating on the fitness of Franco Di Santo ahead of Wigan’s home clash with Newcastle. The forward grabbed a goal in the Gameweek 34 win at Arsenal but lasted just over half an hour at Fulham on Saturday before succumbing to a calf problem. With Hugo Rodallega having failed to play since Gameweek 28 due to a knee injury, Martinez may be forced to turn to Connor Sammon, with his options up front dwindling. Sammon climbed off the bench at the Cottage to provide an assist and may well get the chance to lead the line, with games against Blackburn and Wolves also to follow the Magpies showdown.
