The injury worries continue for Brendan Rodgers, with Andre Wisdom and Fabio Borini the latest casualties. Marouane Fellaini discusses his knee injury, Steven Taylor expects to be fit for the Tyne-Wear derby and Oscar bags a brace for Brazil in a friendly win over Iraq.
Brendan Rodgers has been left reeling after two of his players withdrew from their respective national squads. Andre Wisdom has had to pull out of the England U21 squad due to a shoulder problem, while Fabio Borini is believed to have broken a bone in his foot during training with Italy. While it’s yet uncertain as to the severity of either injury, Wisdom’s potential absence leaves Liverpool struggling for options at full-back; Jose Enrique and Martin Kelly are both sidelined and while Jamie Carragher or Daniel Agger could possibly fill in at right-back and left-back respectively, Rodgers may turn to youngster Jack Robinson. The Liverpool boss sang the left-back’s praises after he also earned a call-up to the England Under 21 squad; Glen Johnson could switch to the other flank if this transpires. Borini’s absence could further cement a starting berth for another youngster, Suso. Coming in at 5.0 in FPL and classified as a forward, he has also started the last two and looks the likeliest to benefit in Borini’s absence.
Marouane Fellaini issued an update on his injury situation yesterday. After pulling out of the Belgian squad with a problem picked up during Everton’s draw at Wigan last weekend, Fellaini spoke to the club’s official website yesterday:
“As you have probably seen and heard I am currently suffering from a knee injury. Fortunately it is not too serious but I will have to miss the two games with Belgium. I am hoping to be back playing for Everton as soon as possible. I am extremely disappointed and I now have to rest in order to get back to full fitness so I can help the team with some important games coming up.”
From a Fantasy perspective, the non-committal answer keeps us firmly in the dark. One of the most popular players in FPL Fellaini is seeing huge numbers of sales on the back a possible absence – with David Moyes notoriously secretive when it comes to player injuries, it could take another seven days until next Friday’s Everton press conference before we get a definitive answer.
Steven Taylor has spoken of his hopes to be fit for the Tyne-Wear derby with Sunderland in Gameweek 8. The Newcastle centre-half revealed yesterday:
“The main thing for me is being 100 per cent fit for the Sunderland game and I didn’t want to prepare for that match carrying any little niggles or anything like that. The medical staff have been spot on – like they always are – and hopefully taking that little bit of extra time on the injury will enable me to be fit for the game at the Stadium of Light. I’m due back in full training next Tuesday, a full five days before the derby, and until then I’ll keep on top of my fitness and conditioning work while a lot of the lads are away on international duty.”
Since limping out of the Gameweek 6 trip to Reading, Taylor has failed to feature for the Magpies. He missed the 3-0 home defeat by United last weekend, joining Fabricio Coloccini and Tim Krul on the sidelines as injuries hit hard for the hosts but with the Sunderland match precluding a favourable run of fixtures, Alan Pardew’s side could be primed for investment. Priced at 5.0 in FPL, Taylor – providing he proves his fitness – looks a decent punt ahead of a schedule that pits him against (WBA, WHM, SWA) in addition to a trip to Southampton from Gameweeks 9-13.
The internationals got underway last night, with Oscar bagging a brace for Brazil in a 6-0 stroll over Iraq. The midfielder was joined by David Luiz and Ramires in the starting XI; Luiz was given the full 90 minutes, while the former two were both subbed off just after the 80th minute mark. Spurs’ Sandro was the man to replace Ramires with eight minutes left on the clock.
