Scout Scribbles – Aguero Sidelined for City

Sergio Aguero is out until mid-January with a calf injury. Nathan Dyer is sidelined with ankle ligament damage. Ben Foster hits the comeback trail, Ron Vlaar remains a doubt for Villa, while Mauricio Pochettino reveals a knock forced Adam Lallana onto the Southampton bench at Newcastle last time around:

Aguero Ruled Out by Calf Injury

Both Manuel Pellegrini and Sergio Aguero confirmed the player is set for “at least one month” on the sidelines with the calf complaint that forced him off early on in the second-half of Saturday’s 6-3 win over Arsenal.

Speaking to the press ahead of the midweek Capital One Cup clash against Leicester, the City boss confirmed the news that is set to spark a scramble right across the Fantasy games:

“I think he will be, at least, one month out. He has a calf injury. Maybe the doctor can say exactly how many weeks he will be.”

Aguero then took to twitter to give his followers an update on the injury:

“It’s confirmed – my calf injury will leave me out for at least a month. The good news is recovery work starts today!”

The Scout Says: As the festive fixtures pick up pace, a month’s absence would force Aguero out of the next five Gameweeks against Fulham, Liverpool, Palace, Swansea and Newcastle. United’s Wayne Rooney is the favoured replacement but his move to a more withdrawn berth for Sunday’s win at Villa has seen some Fantasy managers reassess their plans, with Alvaro Negredo offering a relatively cheap – 9.4 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) – route into City’s attack all the way to the winter wildcard. A move for the Spaniard would also retain coverage of Pellegrini’s attack, though with David Silva, Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri all impressing against the Gunners, there are plenty of options in midfield for those who reckon Pellegrini could switch to 4-5-1 and perhaps look to the mobility of Silva to offer his compatriot support as the lone forward.

Pochettino Explains Lallana Sub Role

The Southampton manager has revelaed Adam Lallana was handed a spot on the bench against Newcastle on Saturday after picking up a knock prior to the trip to St James’ Park.

“Adam had a slight injury and he wasn’t fully fit to be playing the full 90 minutes. We are not going to take any risks with our players. We thought he could come on in the second half as a sub and have an impact and we’re delighted at the way that he did.”

The Scout Says: Having started every league match up until last weekend, Lallana had been one of the few ever-presents under the Argentine this season. Given that Pochettino is without a number of injured first-team options, his decision to court caution with his captain’s fitness is understandable ahead of the Christmas schedule and is somewhat reassuring for Lallana’s 17% owners. Nonetheless, with attacking returns in just one of the last eight matches, Saturday’s bench role looks the final straw for many – over 19,000 have sold him since the weekend, more than any other midfielder in the FPL game.

Toffees Confirm Deulofeu Hamstring Scan Results

Everton have issued an update on Gerard Deulofeu, who was stretchered off in Saturday’s win over Fulham after sustaining a hamstring injury. A report in the club’s official website states:

“Scans have now shown the extent of the soft tissue injury in his right hamstring, which is likely to keep him out for a few weeks.”

The Scout Says: The youngster’s enforced absence looks good news for owners of Kevin Mirallas over the kind upcoming schedule. The Belgian was omitted from the first XI against the Cottagers as Roberto Martinez allowed Deulofeu the role on the right of the front three, after he climbed off the bench to fire an equaliser at the Emirates. Granted, there are other options for the Everton boss but it’s noticeable that on both occasions Mirallas has been dropped, it has been at Deulofeu’s expense. With his only real competition sitting in the treatment room, the 7.2-priced Belgian will be looking to replicate his late goal against the Cottages over a run which pits the Merseysiders against Swansea, Sunderland, Southampton, Stoke and Norwich in the next five.

Foster on the Comeback Trail

The Baggies first-choice stopper is edging towards a return after turning out for the club’s reserves. Foster lasted the planned 45 minutes before making way at the break in a 2-0 defeat to Man City:

The Scout Says: Sidelined since Gameweek 2 with a broken foot, Foster’s absence has afforded Boaz Myhill the chance to keep goal for the last three months. The Welshman has managed just three clean sheets over his 14 appearances for the midlands outfit and looks set to continue at home to Hull this weekend as Foster increases his match fitness with the club’s second-string side. After the Tigers’ visit, West Brom face three road trips in four but, with Steve Clarke sent packing after a run of two points from six games, many will be more than happy to steer clear until performances pick up under the club’s new manager.

Scans Confirm Ligament Damage for Dyer

Swansea have revealed Nathan Dyer is set to be sidelined with ankle ligament damage after being stretchered off during Sunday’s draw at Norwich. While initial fears of a suspected break have been allayed, the club have admitted they are uncertain over the length of absence after the winger sustained “ruptured lateral ligament and further damage to two other ligaments”.

The Scout Says: Having scored in three of the last six Gameweeks, including the weekend game with Norwich, Dyer’s absence is a real blow at a time where the Welsh club continue to toil for goals. Michu has drawn blanks in each of the last two since returning from knee and ankle problems and has now failed to score in seven appearances, with just two strikes to his name all term. With Wayne Routledge looking a peripheral figure under Laudrup, Alex Pozuelo’s Fantasy stock may be set to rise – coming in at a mere 4.2, he’d started four successive league fixtures from Gameweek 11-14 before being utilised as a sub over the last two.

Vlaar Still a Weekend Doubt

Paul Lambert confirmed it is “too early” to decide whether his skipper will return in time for Saturday’s trip to Stoke. Vlaar also rolled out an injury update on the Villa official website, going on to say:

“Like any other player, I do everything possible to remain at peak fitness but I felt my calf during the first half at St Mary’s and it really stiffened up at half-time so there was no point in continuing. Hopefully it won’t be too long before I’m back because I remember how infuriating it was to be out of action last winter.”

The Scout Says: Subbed off at the break in the Gameweek 14 loss to Southampton, Vlaar’s absence has been significant to his side’s defensive displays. Paul Lambert’s side have conceded at least twice in each of the last three league matches – prior to the Dutchman’s absence, they had registered three clean sheets in four. The short-term fixtures are still in Villa’s favour (sto, CPL, SWA, sun) and suggest that if Vlaar recovers quickly, the prospects of defensive returns look set to take a turn for the better – with a run against Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton from Gameweek 24, though, those holding Lambert’s defenders may well be plotting an escape route with the winter wildcards.