Gary Cahill and David Luiz are both out for Chelsea’s derby with QPR on Sunday. Richard Dunne is back for Villa. Andy Wilkinson has been ruled out for Stoke, Danny Guthrie could return for Newcastle, while Martin O’Neill’s midfield problems continue, with Lee Cattermole still rated a doubt for their home clash with Bolton:
Chelsea are facing a shortage at centre-half for Sunday’s home clash with QPR after Gary Cahill and David Luiz were both ruled out of the encounter by Roberto Di Matteo this afternoon. With Branislav Ivanovic serving the final match of a three-game suspension, this leaves the Blues with John Terry as the only available central defender. Though Di Matteo refused to rule the pair out of the Newcastle game on Wednesday, it perhaps boost the chances of Jose Bosingwa over their upcoming pair of games, though Terry looks the only certainty for Fantasy managers eyeing up the Blues assets ahead of the double Gameweek.
Richard Dunne has declared himself fit and available for Villa’s trip to West Brom this weekend. The centre-half has failed to play since sustaining a shoulder injury in Gameweek 25 but is back in contention for the Baggies clash. With James Collins still likely to be out, it’s a timely boost for Alex McLeish – Dunne could slot in alongside either Carlos Cuellar or Nathan Baker at the heart of defence for the derby, though Cuellar may move to right-back, meaning a return to the bench for Alan Hutton, as the midlands outfit scrap for their top-flight survival.
Abou Diaby is a doubt for Arsenal’s trip to Stoke tomorrow. This time it’s illness which places a question mark over his availability, with the midfielder only returning to training yesterday after being sidelined with sickness. Tomas Rosicky has fully recovered from a virus, while Arsene Wenger revealed Theo Walcott has “small” chance of making the Gunners’ final game of the season at the Hawthorns.
Sylvain Marveaux and Gabriel Obertan have both been ruled out of Newcastle’s trip to Wigan this weekend. Alan Pardew admitted the pair are still a little short of fitness but could back come into contention for the second of their double Gameweek, a trip to Chelsea on Wednesday. The Magpies are expected to welcome back Danny Guthrie for the DW trip, with the midfielder on course to return from a calf problem.
The Times are reporting that Jonny Evans is a doubt for United’s trip to City on Monday night. While there’s been nothing official from Old Trafford, it is suggested that the centre-half picked up an injury in Sunday’s 4-4 draw with Everton and has failed to train all week. With reports earlier in the week indicating Rafael could be dropped for the Etihad showdown, Sir Alex Ferguson looks likely to have a defensive dilemma on his hands in what could prove to be a winner takes all showdown.
Lee Cattermole remains a doubt for Sunderland due to a knee problem. The midfielder has missed the last two for the Black Cats with the problem and, with Seb Larsson and Kieran Richardson both ruled out for the season, in addition to Craig Gardner being suspended, Martin O’Neill’s options are thin on the ground as his side welcome Bolton to the Stadium of Light. Cattermole’s likely absence means David Vaughan or David Meyler look likely to battle it out for a place alongside Jack Colback in the centre of the park.
Andy Wilkinson has been ruled out of Stoke’s game with a groin problem. The full-back lasted just 31 minutes of last week’s defeat at Newcastle before being subbed off – his absence will certainly instill confidence in Ryan Shotton’s owners ahead of the double Gameweek. Shotton looks likely to be afforded plenty game time in the home clashes with Arsenal and Everton – with Jermaine Pennant likely to feature only from the bench against the Gunners as he recovers from a virus, Shotton could fill it at both right-back or right midfield for the Potters’ pair of Britannia showdowns.
Marc-Antoine Fortune is reportedly available for a return this weekend as West Brom welcome Aston Villa to the Hawthorns. The forward limped out of the Gameweek 34 win over QPR with a hamstring injury but looks to have recovered in time for tomorrow’s derby – Fortune has been a favourite of Roy Hodgson’s in recent weeks, suggesting a return to the bench for Shane Long could be on the cards. Paul Scharner is expected to be available, despite cracking a bone in his wrist in last Sunday’s win at Liverpool.
