With a host of internationals just around the corner, Fantasy plans are temporarily on pause as we wait for the World Cup Qualifiers to pass without injury or incident. Taking a look at the main Premier League protagonists, we assess their respective game time over the qualifiers so far and analyse the risk of rest and rotation upon their return to domestic duties:
Due to the upcoming FA Cup Sixth Round replay on Monday April 1, United and Chelsea players are of particular interest. That match comes just two days after both sides’ Gameweek 31 trips to Sunderland and Southampton respectively – a win for Chelsea would ensure Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have a double Gameweek 33 but with a 15 point lead at the top of the table, United are certainly in a position to rest and rotate for their Black Cats’ showdown as the Red Devils look to get the better of Rafa Benitez’s side.
The United boss made eight changes for last Saturday’s narrow home win over Reading and with many of his squad involved over the internationals, he’s had plenty to say on the importance of squad rotation over the run-in – offering plenty of insight into his intentions over the remainder of the season as his side battle for silverware on two fronts:
“Freshness is the name of the game now as we come towards the end of the season and the intensity of vital games coming in quick succession. In fact we’re making arrangements for some players to fly home by privately hired jet after their matches to make sure they get home as quickly and smoothly as possible….Tiredness is a great leveller. But we’ll do our utmost to make sure we field the freshest possible teams. Private planes are going to cost the club an awful lot of money, but it is something we feel we have to do….The players who will miss the international trips, like Giggs, Anderson, Vidic, Buttner and Rafa will be key players in the run-in. My role becomes even more important in selecting the right teams, with freshness the operative quality. It’s not necessarily putting out your best team, it’s picking the freshest.”
While Ferguson’s comments offer assurance to Rafael owners after the right-back was rested for the Royals match, his mention of Buttner will be somewhat disconcerting for Patrice Evra owners. The left-back was omitted from a league fixture for only the second time this term last time out and has a couple of crucial games on his agenda for France over the next few days. Neck-and-neck with Spain at the top of Group I with seven points apiece, the French entertain Georgia on Friday evening before Spain arrive on Tuesday – Evra has played every minute of France’s three games so far and will surely play a significant part for the hosts, with that second match already looking like a potential group decider. The mention of Vidic – allied with Rio Ferdinand’s withdrawal from the England squad – perhaps places question marks over Jonny Evans for the Sunderland game. Having played 90 minutes in each of the last three for Northern Ireland, he now hosts Russia and Israel on Friday and Tuesday evening respectively.
Robin Van Persie’s game time has varied across Holland’s four matches so far. He’s played 90 minutes twice (scoring each time), has been subbed of at the break in one match and was an unused sub in another – the only issue is that with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar injured, the lack of alternatives could see the United man start both upcoming matches. The Dutch have two straightforward looking home games on their agenda, though – Estonia arrive on Friday before Romania arrive looking to avenge their 4-1 home defeat back in October. Of the two, the second game seems the likeliest of a 90 minute run out, though if 424the result is in the bag around the hour mark, there’s be no surprise to see him hauled off. Fantasy managers will be hoping Ferguson takes a leaf out of Arsene Wenger’s book when it comes to the forward – previously, the Arsenal boss successfully persuaded the Dutch FA to ease Van Persie’s workload on occasion during his stay at the Emirates.
Wayne Rooney is on his travels with England over the upcoming group games – Roy Hodgson’s side face a trip to whipping boys San Marino on Friday before making their way to Group H leaders Montenegro on Tuesday evening. Rooney missed the last two due to a leg injury but started the opening couple of group games, scoring three times, and was subbed off on 73 minutes on each occasion – given that his second appearance came against San Marino, Hodgson looks unlikely to rest and rotate.
For Chelsea, Eden Hazard is one of a handful of Premier League stars set to take to the field for Marc Wilmots’ Belgium in a double-header with Macedonia on Friday and Tuesday evening. Hazard played less than 60 minutes in Belgium’s first couple of group matches but has lasted the full 90 in the following two, suggesting he could be in for a hectic next few days as his country looks to establish a lead over Croatia at the top of Group A.Juan Mata has been drafted into the Spain squad ahead of a home game with Finland on Friday before a crucial trip to France the following Tuesday. He has yet to feature over his nation’s three matches so far though, after being rested following his Olympic exertions last summer. The likes of David Luiz, Oscar and Ramires are in the Brazil squad for friendlies against Italy and Russia; the latter has been ruled out of the first match but could return for the game against the Russians, which ironically takes place at Stamford Bridge. The Blues will also be hoping Gary Cahill recovers from the problem which has caused him to withdraw from England’s game with San Marino on Friday evening.
Uruguay will be relying on Luis Suarez to boost their chances of qualification after winning just three of their opening nine matches in the South African group. With three draws also accrued, they sit in fifth spot in their table, with the top four automatically going through. Suarez plays host to Paraguay on Friday evening before travelling to Chile the following Tuesday – having played all but 13 minutes of the eight games he has been available for (scoring seven times) two lots of 90 minutes look a safe bet as Suarez attempts to get his nation’s bid back on track. Reds strike partner Daniel Sturridge is in the England squad for the first time as a Liverpool player; given his peripheral role at Chelsea at the time of the last set of internationals, he has yet to play a part in his nation’s campaign under Hodgson.
With a home clash against Reading up next and a double Gameweek 33 on the horizon, Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott look set for significant investment. Cazorla has been called up for Spain’s two games this week, though he’s started just one of the three group fixtures so far and has been utilised as a sub for David Silva on a couple of occasions. Walcott was out of the reckoning on the domestic front at the time of the previous batch of internationals but looks likely to come into contention as Hodgson attempts to claw back the two-point gap at the summit.
Gareth Bale has shrugged off the ankle knock sustained in Tottenham’s home loss to Fulham last weekend and has declared himself fit ahead of Friday’s trip to Scotland. The winger also plays host to Croatia the following Tuesday and having played every minute of the campaign so far – and scored all three of Wales’ goals – it seems more than likely he’ll play both games from start to finish before Spurs make their way to Swansea the following Saturday afternoon.
Roberto Mancini will be hoping David Silva can get through Spain’s two games without any issues. Silva has started all three group games for the defending champions so far and, after being taken off injured in the opener, has been subbed off around the hour mark in the last two. Vincent Kompany is in the Belgium squad though is unlikely to features due to his ongoing calf complaint, while Pablo Zabaleta faces a home clash with Venezuela on Friday before travelling to Bolivia on Tuesday afternoon as Argentine look to stretch their lead at the top of the South America group. Sergio Aguero is out injured, though, while Carlos Tevez is omitted from the squad once again. Yaya Toure and brother Kolo are in the Ivory Coast squad that hosts Gambia early Saturday evening.
Fantasy managers will also be keeping an eye on Villa’s Christian Benteke. The forward has led the line for Belgium in three of the last four and while Marouane Fellaini has been called up, his two-match domestic suspension sees him fall off Fantasy radars prior to a double Gameweek 33. Elsewhere, Newcastle pair Moussa Sissoko and Yohan Cabaye are both in the France squad – the latter looks to have recovered from the groin problem which forced him out of Sunday’s loss at Wigan and has started all three group games for Les Bleus thus far. Alan Pardew will also be hoping Papiss Cisse can navigate Senegal’s home clash against Angola on Saturday evening, with a crucial trip to the Etihad next up for the Magpies. Wigan’s Arouna Kone will also be looking to continue his strong domestic form for Ivory Coast’s clash with Gambia.
