Sergio Aguero takes to twitter to reveal he is starting physio work today. Emmanuel Adebayor finally signs up for Spurs, Sir Alex Ferguson’s central defensive headache is set to continue against Fulham and Scott Sinclair looks set to leave Swansea as Man City come calling:
Sergio Aguero has revealed via his twitter account that his knee injury sustained on Sunday against Southampton is not as bad as City first feared:
“Thank you all for your concern. I’m better but still resting with an ice pack on the swollen area. And very eager to start recovery physio tomorrow! I’ll keep you posted. All the best!”
The news allays fears of any long-term damage, then, but with the immediate prospects of game time looking unlikely, Aguero has already been shipped out of 120,000 managers in FPL as we turn to Carlos Tevez as a City frontline alternative. Unless Aguero can return within a week or two, Tevez – the only nailed-on City forward right now – is likely to rapidly rise in ownership; he has already moved up 0.1 to 9.1, with Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli battling it out for the right to start alongside the Argentine.
Hatem Ben Arfa is set to miss Newcastle’s first three Europa League matches due to suspension – a ban he picked up and failed to serve at previous club Marseille. It’s reassuring news for the Frenchman’s Fantasy owners as the games come thick and fast and suggests he’s more than likely nailed on for the next few league fixtures. Despite a lack of pre-season fitness, Ben Arfa started against Spurs last weekend – it was a move that took many by surprise but Alan Pardew decision was more than vindicated as the Frenchman grabbed the winner and maximum FPL bonus points. With Newcastle set to face Greek outfit Atromitos on Thursday, Ben Arfa now has time to catch up on fitness before the Magpies travel to Chelsea on Sunday.
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed his injury worries in defence are still a while away from being resolved. United were without Jonny Evans, Rio Ferdinand, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones for Monday night’s defeat at Everton and the quartet stand little chance of returning in time for the home clash against Fulham this weekend, according to their manager:
“I don’t think any will be fit for Sunday. Hopefully Evans is getting near to be able to start. With a good week’s training it will bring him on a bit and in a couple of weeks he will be okay.”
Michael Carrick looks set to continue alongside Nemanja Vidic as a makeshift centre-back in the meantime ahead of an enticing trio of fixtures (FUL, sot, WIG). With Antonio Valencia also filling in at right-back ahead of Rafael, Vidic now looks like the only nailed-on defender for United, after yesterday’s acquisition of left-back Alexander Buttner placed question marks over Patrice Evra. With Vidic coming in at 7.0 in FPL, it strengthens the case for David De Gea, at 6.0 in comparison, as a route into Ferguson’s backline.
Scott Sinclair seems to be edging towards the Swansea exit door. The Welsh club’s first-team coach Alan Curtis admitted yesterday:
“He’s not really interested in signing a new contract and I think Man City have made a bid. So it’s just a matter of time now before it happens and it’s good for both parties.”
With Roberto Mancini keen to offload Adam Johnson, Sinclair’s departure could be good news for wingers Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge at the Liberty. The pair returned 16 and nine points respectively in the 5-0 rout of QPR and with five home fixtures in the next seven Gameweeks to follow, look primed for investment. The potential downside is Michael Laudrup’s interest in Valencia’s Pablo Hernandez; his arrival would surely put one of the two wingers at risk as Laudrup continues his rebuilding of the first XI, making Michu the safest option in the Swansea midfield ahead of their enticing schedule.
Reports suggest QPR are close to agreeing a deal for Spurs defender Michael Dawson. With Mark Hughes keen to tighten up his rearguard on the back of their 5-0 hammering at the hands of Swansea and Andre Villas-Boas seeking more dynamic defenders as he looks to implement a high defensive line, Dawson’s departure seems inevitable. Priced at 5.0 in FPL, he would join Jose Bosingwa and Armand Traore as the priciest defenders on offer at Loftus Road, though few Fantasy managers will be willing to take a punt after last Saturday’s disaster. From a Spurs perspective, the situation is something of a conundrum. Villas-Boas started with William Gallas and Younes Kaboul at Newcastle, leaving Jan Vertonghen unexpectedly on the bench. With Steven Caulker also in the mix, the first-choice central defenders are far from certain right now; all the more frustrating bearing in mind Spurs face (WBA, NOR, rdg, QPR) in the next four Gameweeks.
On a positive note for Spurs, Emmanuel Adebayor has finally signed up at the Lane on a permanent deal. With 17 goals, 12 assists and 31 bonus points last term, he finished just a single point behind Gareth Bale in FPL and offers Fantasy managers a very favourable run over the next few matches as Villas-Boas looks to put the Newcastle defeat behind him. Adebayor’s arrival now dims the appeal of Jermain Defoe – the latter had looked an intriguing option at 7.5 but is now set to fall rapidly in our estimations, with Adebayor now at the top of the pecking order for the lone striker role. Much may depend on his fitness for the weekend clash with West Brom – with no pre-season games under his belt, it is perhaps debatable as to how Villas-Boas will utilise him against the Baggies.
