Gareth Bale is stretchered off with an ankle problem in Tottenham’s draw with FC Basel. Rafa Benitez talks rotation after Chelsea see off Rubin Kazan 3-1, Newcastle welcome back Tim Krul and Davide Santon from injury but lose by a similar scoreline to Benfica. Elsewhere, Theo Walcott is out for Arsenal this weekend, while Wayne Rooney is back in training for United:
Tottenham 2 Basel 2
Andre Villas-Boas made three changes for last night’s clash at the Lane. Benoit Assou-Ekotto returned at left-back, with Kyle Naughton switching to the opposite side of the back four as Kyle Walker dropped out, while elsewhere in defence, William Gallas came in for Michael Dawson at centre-half. Hugo Lloris was fit after missing the weekend win at Swansea but Villas-Boas maintained his Europa League policy and kept Brad Friedel in goal. The final change allowed Lewis Holtby a start at the expense of Gylfi Sigurdsson on the flank but the Icelandic international was subbed on after just 24 minutes, with Aaron Lennon limping off. Sigurdsson and Emmanuel Adebayor grabbed the goals as Spurs recovered from a two-goal deficit but the hosts finished the game with just nine men after William Gallas and Gareth Bale were forced off injured.
The Welshman was stretchered from the pitch after turning over on his ankle and immediate post-match reports suggest he is likely to be ruled out for this weekend’s home game with Everton, with Villas-Boas admitting:
“Gareth has rolled over his ankle. We still need to get assessment that we can only have on Friday. It shouldn’t be as bad as it looks because Gareth has torn that ligament before and there’s nothing to tear now. There is lots of swelling and the pain is obviously very, very big but we hope to assess him tomorrow. There is a big possibility he is going to be able to make it for the Man City game and he will only miss the next two games, but assurances we can only give you [Friday]. Gareth will definitely play again this season. [Friday] we will know better but I’m pretty confident. From the medical department’s first analysis, everything is positive.”
The prognosis on Bale’s scan is expected prior to Villas-Boas’ afternoon press conference tomorrow – hopefully, we should get a better idea of any potential length of absence when the Spurs manager faces the media later, then. With a blank Gameweek 33 just around the corner, though, Bale’s absence is likely to signal the frantic scramble for midfield restructuring, with the likes of Arsenal and Everton both offering strong alternatives with a double Gameweek apiece. Frustratingly for Fantasy managers ahead of the double, Toffees duo Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar are suspended this weekend, while Theo Walcott is also sidelined – although United also have a double, the fact that Michael Carrick is their top FPL midfielder with 77 points highlights how poorly they have fared by comparison. By the looks of it, the Santi Cazorla bandwagon has just went up another notch or two.
Chelsea 3 Rubin Kazan 1
Rafa Benitez made six changes from the side that beat United in the FA Cup on Monday afternoon. Ryan Bertrand replace the injured Ashley Cole at left-back, John Terry came in for Branislav Ivanovic in central defence, Frank Lampard was preferred to John Obi Mikel in the double-pivot, Yossi Benayoun and Victor Moses got the nod ahead of Eden Hazard and Oscar further up the pitch, while Fernando Torres led the line with Demba Ba ineligible. Torres bagged a brace and Moses notched the other as the Blues grabbed the first-leg initiative; ahead of Sunday’s home match against Sunderland, Juan Mata played 78 minutes and supplied an assist, Lampard played the full 90 while Hazard replaced Moses with 25 minutes remaining.
Post-match, there’s no surprise to hear that Benitez admitted he’s set to tinker for the weekend clash with the Black Cats as Chelsea attempt to get their bid for a third place finish back on track:
“It depends on each player and it is not a case of me thinking I must do this or that. You look at the players you have and if they have fresh legs, if they are fine and what are their positions. After that you decide. I don’t know how many but we have to change players.”
Benfica 3 Newcastle 1
Alan Pardew made four changes from the side that were hammered 4-0 by City last Saturday. Tim Krul and Davide Santon both returned from injury, while Sylvain Marveaux and James Perch were also handed the chance to impress from the start – Rob Elliot, Vernun Anita, Gabriel Obertan and the ineligible Yoan Gouffran all dropped out. Ahead of Sunday’s home game with Fulham, the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Moussa Sissoko and Papiss Cisse all played the full 90 minutes – Sissoko supplied the assist for Cisse’s strike, with the Senegal frontman also hitting the woodwork twice in the defeat.
In Other News
Arsenal coach Steve Bould rolled out an injury update ahead of this weekend’s trip to West Brom. Bould discussed the progress of midfield duo Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott and also revealed the latest news on new boy Nacho Monreal:
“We have good news with both of them. Jack and Theo are outside running, and have an outside chance of being involved against Norwich a week on Saturday…Nacho has recovered well from his knee problem from the impact of the post and has trained the last couple of days so is available for the weekend.”
The news on Walcott is something of a surprise, given that only last week, Arsene Wenger was confident he’d be ready for the Hawthorns trip. With the Norwich game the first of Arsenal’s two fixtures in double Gameweek 33, it leaves Fantasy managers with a real dilemma – judging by Bould’s expectations, the situation could transpire that Walcott may only be ready for the following game against Everton in midweek. Not only would this significantly dent his appeal, it would also have a knock-on effect on his likely replacement, Gervinho. It may well be that that duo play one game apiece over the couple of fixtures –far from ideal when assessing the Gunners for the double. As mentioned above, considering Santi Cazorla’s form and fitness, the Spaniard’s bandwagon is likely to pick up pace even further, while Olivier Giroud’s consistency of starts should also earn him more interest than initially anticipated.
At the back, Monreal’s recovery from the knee knock that forced him off is good news for his 3% FPL backers. The January signing has averaged over six points per game across his six appearances since arriving from Malaga, though with Kieran Gibbs also fit and available, Arsene Wenger’s recent rotation policy at the back may dent the Spaniard’s game time.
Having hinted at a need to manage Robin Van Persie’s game time on Wednesday, Sir Alex Ferguson took a completely different tact yesterday and refuted any suggestions the Dutchman requires a break. The United boss is also confident Van Persie’s goal drought will soon come to an end, with the summer signing failing to score in nine games in all competitions for the Red Devils:
“Robin doesn’t need a rest, that’s for sure. He’s a strong lad with a great physique…The goals will come. All strikers have little dry spells – you always hope it ends quickly. It’s just part of being a striker.”
The news will reassure Van Persie’s 37% FPL owners ahead of a crucial couple of Gameweeks. Monday night’s match with City is followed by double Gameweek 33 – trips to Stoke and West Ham are likely to see plenty more interest come his way in light of Ferguson’s reassuring comments.
United are also likely to have Wayne Rooney and Rafael ready for the derby clash. In an earlier-than-usual press conference Ferguson was a little less guarded than normal when discussing squad injuries:
“Wayne and Rafa have started training this morning. Which is good news. Hopefully, they will be fine by Monday. Jonny Evans and Nemanja Vidic are not there yet but, hopefully, they will start training maybe tomorrow or Saturday morning. We have a little bit of time on our hands to get most of the troops ready for the game.”
Rooney has missed the last couple with a groin injury sustained on international duty but his manager certainly seems optimistic of his inclusion. A victory against City would put United 18 points clear with just seven games left and, after the disappointment of Monday’s FA Cup defeat at Chelsea, anything other than a full-strength XI, with Rooney and Van Persie up top together, would be a real surprise.
