Tim Krul is sent home from Holland’s training camp with an elbow problem. Gareth Barry is nearing a return for City, Brad Friedel is determined to hold off the challenge of Hugo Lloris between the posts for Tottenham, while John Terry joins Ashley Cole on the sidelines with less than a week until Chelsea’s trip to QPR:
Alan Pardew’s injury worries show no sign of abating right now. With Danny Simpson ruled out and Fabricio Coloccini a doubt, the Magpies boss now has Tim Krul’s fitness to fret over after the keeper was sent home from Holland training with an elbow problem. Krul featured for his country in a 2-0 win over Turkey on Friday evening but now faces a wait over the prognosis – with a trip to Everton up next, Fantasy faith in the Toffees assets looks set to grow.
Brad Friedel has spoken of his determination to see off the challenge of Spurs’ new keeper Hugo Lloris:
When I signed for Tottenham, I signed as a stop-gap while Tottenham looked for a long-term goalkeeper. Tottenham deserve a long-term goalkeeper. Right now I believe the shirt is mine to lose, I believe the manager came out and said that. If that’s the case then great.
Friedel was voted Man of the Match in Spurs’ previous game at home to Norwich, with a string of saves denying the Canaries a win. Ahead of a run of games that sees Spurs square up to (rdg, QPR, AVL) in the next four, the US international still seems to be in the driving seat but with Tottenham failing to register a single clean sheet under Andre Villas-Boas so far, faith in their defensive assets has taken a real dip, despite those favourable fixtures.
Elsewhere, Joe Allen is expected to be fit for Wales’ game with Serbia. The Liverpool midfielder missed the 2-0 defeat by Belgium on Friday due to a virus but is now expected to shake off any after-effects and take his place in the squad. John Terry has joined Ashley Cole on the sidelines for England’s match with Ukraine due to an ankle, with the pair battling to be ready for Chelsea’s Gameweek 4 trip to QPR.
Zoltan Gera is expected to be fit for Hungary’s match with Holland – the West Brom midfielder was subbed off against Andorra on Friday with an Achilles knock but has since returned to training. Jonny Evans has handed Northern Ireland a fitness boost ahead of Tuesday’s match with Luxembourg – the centre-half picked up an ankle knock in last week’s defeat to Russia but has come through a training session unscathed.
Gareth Barry revealed he is closing in on a comeback for City. The midfielder – who has yet to feature this term for the champions – went on to say:
I had a double hernia operation which meant an initial four weeks out, but then I tore a muscle in rehab which set me back a little bit, but I don’t think I’m too far off now – touch wood! I’m just taking things one day at a time but I’m feeling quite strong again which is really good. I’ve had two outings with the Elite Development Squad now – 45 minutes against Middlesbrough and 80 against Liverpool and I felt a lot better in the second game so things are progressing nicely.
Barry’s absence – allied with Nigel De Jong’s sale to AC Milan – has handed Jack Rodwell the chance to cement his place as Yaya Toure’s central midfield partner in a couple of City’s games thus far. With Barry reluctant to put a date on his comeback, Rodwell seems set to continue in the first XI for next weekend’s trip to Stoke as City look to register their first away win of the new campaign.
