Sergio Aguero is available for City’s cup replay with Blackburn tonight but Yaya Toure and David Silva miss out with minor injuries. Everton’s Ross Barkley is set for a spell on the sidelines due to a fractured toe, Andros Townsend shines for the Spurs second-string, Paul Lambert reckons Monday’s goal against Arsenal could spark a return to form for Christian Benteke, whilst Brede Hangeland returns as Fulham sweep aside Norwich in the cup:
Aguero Returns for City as Midfield Problems Mount
In a vastly enlightening press conference yesterday, Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that Sergio Aguero is back and fit to face Blackburn in his side’s FA cup tie this evening:
“Sergio is working as normal with the whole squad and he is in the squad list for tomorrow. We’ll see tomorrow if he can play. Of course he is a very important player for us. It doesn’t matter if we are scoring a lot of goals, Sergio will always be an important player and we are very happy that he is back.”
However, after also confirming the loss of Samir Nasri for up to eight weeks, the City boss revealed that both David Silva and Yaya Toure are out of tonight’s game, with Pellegrini only hopeful that they will be fit for Cardiff’s visit to the Etihad on Saturday. The Chilean, who reiterated that the mounting injury list will not affect their activity in the transfer window, admitted that Toure has actually been carrying an injury for the last couple of weeks:
“Yaya has the last two weeks played with a problem in his back, so I think it was too risky to continue playing in that way. It’s better for him to stop and to rest two or three days. For the moment it is not very serious.”
The Scout Says: The imminent return of Aguero is big news for managers currently wielding their wildcards and those in possession of City’s current upfront duo of choice Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo. With Aguero almost certain to be instantly reinstalled into the starting XI on Saturday, and Negredo currently in fine form, it would seem that Dzeko’s short spell as a cut-price route into City’s attack has come to an end. Template wildcard teams will now surely be built around a frontline of Aguero and Luis Suarez, although the revelation of Toure’s ongoing injury problem might break up said template – his manager’s indication that the Ivorian’s back problem might become a serious issue if he continues to overuse him will cast doubt over the decision to hop aboard the bandwagon of the highest-owned midfielder in the game, and gives his 43.8% worth of owners something to keep an eye on.
Benteke gets Lambert’s backing
After he finally broke his goalscoring drought in Monday evening’s game against Arsenal with a bullet header, Christian Benteke has received a full vote of confidence from his manager, Paul Lambert. The Villa boss reckons the big Belgian will return to the form that saw him harvest 19 goals last season and help save his side’s thus far unconvincing season:
“That goal will give him a lift after his barren spell. Hopefully it will give him a big boost. It was great. It was a top goal – great cross and great header. I hope this gives him confidence. It was this time last year where he started to hit the goals, give or take a few weeks or so. He started to kick-in. He went on a scoring spree that made his name, really. This will certainly give him a big lift.”
The Scout Says: As if there weren’t enough options already fighting for places in our three-man frontlines. Yesterday’s loan signing of Grant Holt might not seem like the greatest show of faith from Lambert but, should his first goal since September signify an upturn in form, Benteke might well have huge appeal as a differential up top, with Villa’s next three home games against West Brom, West Ham and Norwich offering the Belgian a chance to put his power to use and go about re-writing the script for his season thus far. At 8.7, he’s not exactly budget-friendly but, should Monday night’s morale boost have the effect his manager predicts, Benteke could – as he showed in 2012/13 – prove as valuable an option as Daniel Sturridge or Olivier Giroud in the second half of the season.
Barkley Out for Three to Six Weeks
Everton have confirmed that Ross Barkley missed his side’s previous game against Norwich with a fractured toe he picked up in the 4-0 FA Cup victory against QPR the previous weekend. Reports suggest it is only a small fracture, but his absence could range from three to six weeks depending on the time it takes to heal.
The Scout Says: The young midfielder has made a huge impact on the Fantasy landscape this season, proving great value for his initial 4.5 price-tag and currently residing in over 25% of teams. The worst-case scenario for Everton and his current owners is that he misses the next six Gameweeks, with home matches against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace having looked potentially prosperous for the 20-year-old. His absence could, however, prove a blessing for Leon Osman if he is shifted into the advanced central role. Osman has played three hundred minutes fewer than Barkley this season but, with two goals, five assists and a total of 68 points accrued, he ranks only second to Kevin Mirallas in the Everton midfield. Depending on the length of Barkley’s absence, Osman could potentially rise above the Belgian and give Roberto Martinez a real headache upon the young Englishman’s return.
Townsend Makes his Comeback
Andros Townsend made his return from injury yesterday with a goal and assist in Tottenham under-21s’ 4-1 victory over Newcastle. The winger was withdrawn at half-time but, should he have proven himself fit and ready to his manager – who post-match heaped praise upon the direct, attacking approach of the England international – Townsend might well make the squad for the trip to Swansea come Sunday afternoon.
“He is a top trainer and he wants to be playing in every minute of every game, but he will get his opportunities and I am sure he will be productive between now and the end of the season for us. Obviously I like Andros and I know what his qualities are. He gets past people, he makes goals and he can score goals. He needs to slow himself down on his shooting and he knows that”
The Scout Says: Truth be told, Townsend has failed to turn his attacking instincts into Fantasy returns this season, notching just one goal and one assist before picking up the hamstring injury prior to Christmas that has kept him out up until now. He will surely be eased back into action but, should Sherwood’s new regime have the same impact on the winger as it has on the likes of Christian Eriksen and Emmanuel Adebayor, Townsend – looking to prove himself ahead of this summer’s World Cup – may well make a mockery of his current price tag of 5.1.
Swansea Confusion over Ki Sung-Yeung Recall
After Gus Poyet indicated that he would like to make the South Korean’s move to the Stadium of Light permanent, Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has hinted that just the opposite might happen:
“”He is our player and we can recall him up until January 31.”
Ki, however, has responded in an interview with Sunderland’s website by stating his intention to continue performing for Sunderland and help the Black Cats avoid relegation.
Despite Jenkins’ protestations, however, reports in the local press this morning seem to indicate the cut-off date for a recall has, indeed, passed and Ki will remain on Wearside until the end of the season.
The Scout Says: Available for just 4.8, Ki has acquired something of a following around these parts just recently after a series of impressive performances resulted in double-figure returns in two of his last four starts. Given Michael Laudrup’s lack of faith, a return to Swansea would have almost certainly seen Kim relegated to the bench and lose his appeal as a budget option but today’s news will ensure he remains on the radar of Fantasy managers ahead of a strong set of fixtures.
Injuries Ease for Cottagers
Fulham cruised past Norwich in last night’s FA Cup Third Round replay at the Cottage. In a game that saw both sides make several changes from the weekend, the hosts registered a 3-0 victory, with Steve Sidwell scoring for the third game in four across all competitions. Both Brede Hangeland and Maarten Stekelenburg returned from injury to take their place in Rene Meulensteen’s starting XI and post-match, their manager was clearly buoyed by their respective comebacks:
“Having Brede back was a great boost. He’s done very well after his surgery and trained very hard to get back. Sunderland was a bit too early but it was great to see him come through the 90 minutes tonight. Arsenal on Saturday is a different kettle of fish away from home but we’ll review this game with Brede and go from there…We were very pleased to see Maarten back. It was a very unfortunate injury. It didn’t look too bad at the time but we’re glad to see him back; he was excellent.”
The Scout Says: Missing since Gameweek 8 with a back injury, Hangeland’s absence has clearly been significant for the Cottagers this term. Fulham had managed two clean sheets in his eight league matches but have mustered just one more in the subsequent 13 fixtures and have struggled for a semblance of solidity at the back. Indeed, since Meulensteen took over, his side have been dire defensively – in eight matches, they have shipped four to Everton, City and Sunderland and also conceded six to a Hull side that have netted 22 times all season. As Meulensteen mentions, though, it may be somewhat risky to field his skipper in back-to-back games so soon after returning but with games against Southampton, United and Liverpool in the next five, in addition to their Emirates trip, he can ill-afford to do without the Norwegian’s influence at the back right now.
