Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo both bag braces against Blackburn, whilst Sergio Aguero needs less than a minute off the bench to also notch. Aaron Ramsey could be set for a weekend return against Fulham, Wayne Rooney could miss United’s trip to the Bridge, Michel Vorm is hoping to return for Swansea this weekend and Palace’s prolific marksman is finally closing in on a comeback:
CITY ENJOY ANOTHER EITHAD ROUT
In the fifth of a nine-match schedule across January, Manuel Pellegrini made changes aplenty for City’s home clash with Blackburn. The Chilean retained just three of the XI who started Sunday’s league win over Newcastle (Fernandinho, Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo) and handed many of his fringe players the chance to impress. Dzeko and Negredo both bagged a brace in the 5-0 rout but in spite of their endeavours, it was the return of Sergio Aguero that caught Fantasy managers eyes. Emerging from the bench on 72 minutes after recovering from a calf injury, the Argentine needed less than 60 seconds to find the net and immediately force his way into our thinking ahead of the weekend home game against Cardiff.
Post-match, Pellegrini discussed his forwards and also explained the attacking philosophy which has now harvested 99 goals for the Etihad club already this season:
“Alvaro and Dzeko are in a very good moment and it’s also important that Sergio came back and scored in this game. We have so many games at this stage and we also have Stevan to factor in…When I arrived here I knew it was important to win a trophy but I think the way this team plays is equally important. It’s important the fans come here and know we’re going to try and score the most amount of goals we can and play in an entertaining way. I act without thinking about the other team. It’s important to play in the same style, we try to play independent of the score at that point – to keep improving in every moment of the game.”
The Scout Says: Last night’s line-up certainly affords Aleksandar Kolarov owners a degree of optimism heading into the weekend. Given that Pellegrini changed his entire back-four and keeper against Rovers, it’s starting to look like a pecking order has been established in defence, with the Serbian likely to return at left-back at the expense of Gael Clichy against the Bluebirds. Up top, the Aguero bandwagon has quickly roared into action, with thousands of Fantasy managers already snapping him up overnight. A cameo role last night also suggests he looks a likely starter at the weekend and will offer us a real armband alternative to Luis Suarez. Dzeko has mirrored Negredo’s eight goals over nine games in the Argentine’s absence and bettered the Spaniard by three assists to two but the Bosnian looks odds-on to drop out if, as expected, Pellegrini brings his star striker back to face the Bluebirds.
RAMSEY IN LINE FOR WEEKEND RETURN
Missing from the Arsenal line up since Boxing Day with a thigh strain, Aaron Ramsey is set to make his return for the Gunners this weekend against Fulham. Meanwhile, Kieran Gibbs and Mikel Arteta might also make their comebacks from injury on Saturday, which is especially welcome news for Arsene Wenger with both Nacho Monreal and Tomas Rosiscky looking likely to miss out.
The Scout Says: Ramsey’s return couldn’t be better timed for managers still in possession of their Wildcard. Dropping from 7.6 to 7.1 in price during his spell on the sidelines, Ramsey now once again presents a mid-price route into one of the league’s in-form sides ahead of three prosperous-looking fixtures (FUL, sou, CRY) and also offers the chance to save a considerable amount of budget compared to the acquisition of team-mate Mesut Ozil. During Ramsey’s absence, however, another Arsenal midfielder has thrown his name into the hat. Jack Wilshere has picked up a goal and two assists across the last two Gameweeks and, at a full 1.0 cheaper, offers a viable alternative to the Welshman for those on a more restricted budget.
ROONEY UNLIKELY TO MAKE CHELSEA SHOWDOWN
Manchester United boss David Moyes has shed some light on the situation regarding Wayne Rooney’s fitness, after the Englishman has spent the last week on a warm weather break in Egypt. The trip has apparently paid off, but the Mail report that Moyes is still reluctant to risk Rooney against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, with the striker only rated at 50-50 to make his side’s Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Sunderland the following Wednesday.
The Scout Says: Whilst there is no absolute certainty over whether Rooney will miss Sunday’s game, the signs don’t look good for the 11.4-priced striker and his owners. Moyes will certainly have one eye firmly fixed on that midweek match up with Sunderland, which could turn out to be a vital game in ensuring United still have any chance of lifting silverware this season, and may choose not to risk Rooney ahead of such an important fixture. His absence at Stamford Bridge, would pave the way once again for Danny Welbeck to continue the run of the form that has seen him plunder six goals in his last six outings, whilst owners of Chelsea’s defensive assets might rest a little easier in the knowledge that United will once again be without their attacking catalyst.
MIXED NEWS FOR PALACE
Palace fans will be buoyed by the news that Glen Murray might be set to make his long-awaited return from injury on February 8 against West Brom. The 30-year-old has been missing since last May, when he sustained a ligament injury in the play-off semi-final first-leg against Brighton, but Tony Pulis is hopeful he will be able to call upon the striker again soon:
“Glenn will be another week before he joins in with us for full training. I would say he’s about two or three weeks off. It would have been lovely to have him back earlier but that’s not been the case, and we certainly do need some presence up front.”
In other news, Palace will be without the services of Kagisho Dikgacoi once again this weekend, while winger Yannick Bolasie – who has started the last four league games for the Eagles – is also a doubt for the visit of Stoke.
The Scout Says: For those of you not yet acquainted with Glen Murray, you might be interested to hear that at one point last season he was ranked as one of the most prolific strikers in Europe, second only to a certain Lionel Messi. Whilst that might have been a little disproportionate in terms of talent, there is no doubt that Murray has goal-scoring prowess and, should Pulis select him ahead of either Marouane Chamkh or Cameron Jerome in the front two, Murray – with 31 goals in all competitions last season – could potentially be a stand-out option for those hunting for a cheap third striker towards the latter half of this campaign.
Vorm Closing in on Comeback
Michel Vorm expects to be fit to make his return for Swansea against Tottenham on Sunday, meaning that Gerhard Tremmel’s recent run of starts is likely to come to an end. Having struggled with a knee injury throughout November and the start of December, Vorm eventually underwent surgery last month and is hoping of returning to action this weekend:
“You need to make sure you are 100 per cent and I am nearly there now. Hopefully I’ll be fit to play against Tottenham at the weekend.”
The Scout Says: The fact that Vorm only rates himself as ‘nearly’ 100 percent suggests he might not be in line to start on Sunday, perhaps giving Tremmel’s owners one more Gameweek to reap the benefits of his meagre 4.4 price-tag. With Vorm between the sticks, Swansea have managed five clean sheets this season, whilst they have conceded in every game that Tremmel has played in goal, suggesting that the Dutchman’s return to full fitness could yet see the Welsh side’s defensive assets provide some value. Now available for less than 5.0 and with a strong schedule on the horizon once Tottenham’s visit to the Liberty is out of the way, managers wielding Wildcards might even want to consider Vorm for a place in their squads.
