Theo Walcott is available for Arsenal after recovering from the knock sustained in England’s match with Ukraine. Christian Eriksen could start for Tottenham against Norwich, though Erik Lamela may have to make do with a bench role. Everton will assess a knock to Seamus Coleman ahead of Chelsea’s visit, Gary Hooper is available for Norwich, while Allan McGregor remains a doubt as Hull entertain fellow promoted club Cardiff at the KC:
Arsene Wenger handed many a Fantasy manager good news yesterday after revealing Theo Walcott was “fully fit” for the Gunners’ trip to Sunderland. Tomas Rosicky is out, though, after failing to recover from the thigh injury picked up on international duty with the Czech Republic – Mesut Ozil is poised to make his debut against the Black Cats, though Wenger – somewhat tongue-in-cheek – insisted he hadn’t decided whether to start the German international. Wenger also confirmed earlier this morning that Thomas Vermaelen could make the squad having returned to full training, though new boy Yannick Sanogo is sidelined with a back problem.
Elsewhere in north London, Andre Villas-Boas had plenty to say when it came to his new arrivals. The Spurs boss discussed Christian’s Eriksen’s likely debut against Norwich tomorrow afternoon:
“Will he be in the line-up this weekend? There is a big possibility but it’s not a certainty yet.”
Erik Lamela was also on the agenda too. The former Roma star only returned to England yesterday morning after international duties with Argentina and his manager conceded:
““The fact that he’s yet to train with the team puts him in a very difficult position to start the game, but it’s not impossible.””
Villas-Boas also admitted Vlad Chiriches’ availability still hangs in the balance as the club await a work permit for the Romanian defender. Aaron Lennon and Etienne Capoue remain injured, Emmanuel Adebayor has been given time off for personal reasons and Gylfi Sigurdsson has returned from the Iceland squad with a dead leg.
Roberto Martinez’ installation as Everton boss has proven beneficial to Fantasy managers this season. Gone are the days of unspecified “niggles and knocks” rolled out by David Moyes from one week to the next – this time round, the Toffees boss got straight to the point:
“There are one or two knocks as you would expect, especially Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy, who were away with Ireland. Apart from those two, everyone seems fully fit and ready to perform…Darron (Gibson) and Antolin (Alcaraz) have been working in a way that they are joining the first team; now it is a matter of getting them full match fitness. That could take a couple of weeks depending on how they react. I do feel they probably won’t be fit for the weekend, but they aren’t too far away. It has been a great couple of weeks for Darron, especially in terms of getting close to being available.”
Ian Holloway, on the other hand, could hardly have been more cryptic ahead of Palace’s trip to Old Trafford. The Eagles boss – who lost both Jonny Williams and Jack Hunt to injury earlier in the week and will have to do without the likes of Jerome Thomas and Yannick Bolasie out wide again – would only reveal:
“We’ve had a slight knock somewhere, but I’m not going to say anything to keep them guessing. One of the new players may have to come in. I’ve lost someone who was in the team last week, so I have to put someone else in.”
Gary Hooper is fit and available for selection as Norwich travel to the Lane. The summer signing from Celtic has yet to feature this term due to a shin problem but has trained all week, according to Canaries boss Chris Hughton. Game time off the bench looks the likeliest scenario, though, with the visitors likely to stick to their default lone striker system allowing Ricky Van Wolfswinkel the chance to lead the line again.
Allan McGregor remains a doubt for Hull’s home game with Cardiff. The keeper continues to struggle with the groin problem that forced him out of the recent Scotland internationals, though Abdoulaye Faye has been passed fit and comes into contention for the first time this term. Sone Aluko is expected to be available after a recent hamstring problem, though new forward Gedo is still lacking in match fitness.
Paul Lambert has reported a clean bill of health for Villa’s home game with Newcastle. This brings Nathan Baker and Antonio Luna back into contention after the duo missed the Capital One Cup clash against Rotherham last time out – while the latter looks set to be reinstalled at left-back, Baker faces a fight to oust Jores Okore from the central defensive berth alongside Ron Vlaar.
