Shane Long is a doubt for West Bromโs home clash with Southampton. Pablo Zabaleta is fit for Cityโs trip to West Ham, Andy Wilkinson is set to fill in at left-back for Stokeโs injured regular Marc Wilson, Emmanuel Adebayor is fit but will need to remain patient for a starting berth, while Martin OโNeill backs Adam Johnson to produce the goods for Sunderland.:
West Brom are awaiting Shane Longโs scan results on knee and hamstring problems sustained in last weekendโs game at Newcastle. The Irishman has mainly been favoured over Romelu Lukaku as Steve Clarkeโs first-choice forward this term, starting seven of the Baggies first nine matches and has proven a consistent, if somewhat unspectacular source of points, with attacking returns in six of his nine appearances. Lukaku started at St Jamesโ Park last Sunday, though, and his goal against the Magpies means he has now scored in both his starts โ with the midlands outfit set to host a Southampton side that have conceded 16 goals in four away fixtures, plenty of investment could come Lukakuโs way before tomorrowโs deadline if Long is ruled out in Clarkeโs press conference later on today.
Manchester Cityโs official site has confirmed that Pablo Zabaleta is fit and available for tomorrowโs evening clash at West Ham. The news is welcome relief for Roberto Mancini after Micah Richards was ruled out for four months earlier this weeks after undergoing knee surgery, while summer signing Maicon remains in the treatment room after picking up a foot just one league game into his Etihad career. With City conceding just once in their last three, Zabaleta โ who has dropped from 6.0 to 5.7 in FPL โ could be set for renewed interest, with little competition for a starting berth at right-back at the moment.
Tony Pulis has confirmed Andy Wilkinson is set to fill in for the injured Marc Wilson at left-back for Stoke. Wilson had picked up Fantasy interest ahead of the Pottersโ strong run of fixtures due to his 4.5 FPL price but is now expected to be out for around three months with a broken leg sustained in last weekโs draw with Sunderland. Wilkinson lost his right-back role to Geoff Cameron after a recent three-game suspension but now looks set to be offered a first-team lifeline, in light of Wilsonโs unfortunate news. Priced at 4.4 and 4.5 respectively, Wilkinson and Cameron could be primed for investment โ both look nailed-on for the full-back roles at present. Pulis also revealed Glenn Whelan has recovered from a hamstring injury and is set to return to the side for tomorrowโs trip to Norwich โ the midfielder has started all of his sideโs first seven fixtures before limping off with the problem just 19 minutes into the Gameweek 7 draw at Liverpool.
Andre Villas-Boas has ruled out Moussa Dembele of Spursโ home clash with Wigan this weekend. The Belgian will remain on the sidelines with a hip problem picked up on recent international duty, though Emmanuel Adebayor returns to the squad after injury. Judging by his managerโs comments, however, the Togo international will have to be patient once again โ yet to start a league game since joining up at the Lane this term after a hugely successful loan spell last season, he looks likely to remain on bench-warming duties against the Latics:
“โHe hasnโt played as much through injury – the biggest was his thigh. He was out for six games, from Reading to Villa. Then we lost him for two games recently. Whenever he came on he did well and he wants to be part of the team. But [Jermain] Defoe is doing well and weโve gone eight games and he has five goals. That is the goalscoring ability that you want for your team. Ade is there too but has to be more patient at the moment – but Iโm sure after these setbacks he can make a good run in the team too.”
Martin OโNeill has backed Adam Johnson to produce the goods after the wingerโs poor start at Sunderland:
“We have attacking threats and itโs about getting that galvanized. That takes a little bit of time. For example, itโs Stevenโs (Fletcher) first season here and the same with Adam, who were the two players we bought [in the summer]. Steven has had a really good start. Adam โ I think through the injuries he sustained on international duty โ just hasnโt been able to get a proper foothold. But Iโve no doubt he will come good. I imagine he will get back first of all to the form he has shown over the last couple of seasons, and secondly it wonโt be far away.”
Johnson has yet to produce any attacking returns over his five starts for the Black Cats and with fellow wide-man James McClean managing a single assist in nine, itโs easy to see just why the Wearsiders are struggling to produce the goals right now. OโNeill has attempted to address the problem in recent games โ Stephane Sessegnon was dropped for the trip to Stoke, with Seb Larsson moving to the role in โthe holeโ, while McClean was handed a sub role in the midweek cup defeat by Middlesbrough, with Johnson moving to the left and Sessegnon on the right wing. The Black Catsโ woes showed little sign of abating, though, with OโNeillโs side failing to score in either game.
