Scout Scribbles – Hazard Set for Belgium Bench Role

Eden Hazard is set for a sub role in Belgium’s friendly with Ivory Coast. Robin van Persie misses training for Holland due to illness. Palace pair Marouane Chamakh and Joe Ledley both withdraw from international duty. Phil Jagielka is close to returning for Everton, Denmark are unlikely to risk Christian Eriksen for tonight’s Wembley encounter, whilst Alan Pardew praises Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa’s weekend performance:

Belgium Boss to Spare Hazard’s Game Time

With a crucial home clash against Tottenham on Saturday, the Chelsea winger looks set to be used sparingly for Belgium’s friendly with Ivory Coast this evening. Speaking to the press, national boss Marc Wilmots discussed his intentions for the Blues wide man:

“I am aware of the situation with regards to Eden’s overall fitness, and it could become an issue for the World Cup, if Chelsea go all the way in the Champions’ League. The final comes after the end of the Premier League campaign and would leave him less recovery time for Brazil. Those sort of factors could affect his ability to produce his best at the World Cup, but that is something to consider nearer the time. For now, I am happy to accept that we don’t need him to be starting this game. I am happy with the group of players at my disposal, and Eden will be on the bench. I won’t use him for more than 20 minutes.”

The Scout Says: The news will delight Hazard’s Fantasy owners in a week where many of our limited midfield options are struggling to make the weekend’s action. Current leader of this week’s Captain Poll, Hazard has already racked up five sets of double figures at the Bridge this term and, with a win set to take his side seven points clear of their nearest challengers, a midweek rest could prove critical ahead of the vital showdown with Tim Sherwood’s team.

Van Persie Illness Worry for Dutch

Reports suggest the United forward is struggling to be fit in time for Holland’s friendly with France this evening after sitting out training due to illness.

The Scout Says: Fantasy managers will be eagerly anticipating this evening’s line-up for any indication of van Persie’s availability ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Brom. With many sides missing out this weekend due to FA Cup scheduling, van Persie’s appeal is on the rise – over 12,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers have already drafted him for the Hawthorns showdown and, with a goal in four of his five appearances since returning from injury, he sits second in this week’s Captain Poll so far. A potential absence would surely boost Wayne Rooney’s stock and could see the England international moved into the advanced forward position, with David Moyes perhaps affording Juan Mata the role in “the hole” should van Persie fail to recover in time for Saturday’s Midlands encounter.

Injuries Increase for Palace

Ahead of Saturday’s home game against Southampton, Tony Pulis is sweating on the fitness of Marouane Chamakh and Joe Ledley after both withdrew from international duty yesterday. Chamakh was forced out of the Morocco squad with a hamstring strain, whilst Ledley pulled out of Wales’ clash with Iceland due to a hip problem.

The Scout Says: Handed a role in central midfield against Swansea last Sunday, Ledley played from start to finish in the 1-1 draw, though Chamakh lasted just 31 minutes before being replaced by Glenn Murray as the Eagles’ lone forward. Murray had partnered Chamakh in a 4-4-2 in the previous Gameweek but was only fit enough for the bench last week after picking up a knock in training – having climbed off the bench to notch the equaliser, he is expected to return to the starting XI for the Saints showdown. Tom Ince’s owners will be hoping a possible absence for Chamakh could allow the midfielder a central berth again – he grabbed a goal and assist from the role in “the hole” on his debut but has failed to produce the returns since shifting to the right flank in the last couple of matches.

Mixed Injury News for Martinez

The Everton manager confirmed on-loan forward Lacina Traore will remain at the club as he looks to recover from a hamstring problem that could keep him out for up to two months. Martinez also revealed Phil Jagielka could be back in time for this weekend’s FA Cup encounter with Arsenal as he steps up his comeback from a similar complaint:

“With Lacina, we’ve seen the specialists and we’re now ready to proceed with what’s going to be the best treatment for Lacina, and it’s not going to be surgery. It’s fantastic news that he doesn’t need to go down that route, as that means he’s going to be available for the end of the season. We’re expecting between six and eight weeks to be the period he needs to be recovering, but we’re all very positive…With Phil, you can never rule him out. From a medical point of view, he should be missing the game against Arsenal – I was probably looking more at the Cardiff game. But knowing him and how he’s reacted to this similar injury that he’s had in the past, he could heal a lot quicker. I’m not going to rule him out and we’re going to give him as much time as he needs to make a final decision.”

The Scout Says: The Traore news will no doubt delight owners of Romelu Lukaku ahead of the Merseysiders’ superb run of fixtures. Having recovered from an ankle injury, the big Belgian was fit enough only for the bench last weekend after picking up a chest infection but need little time to make an impact as a second-half substitute by bagging the winner against West Ham. With less competition for the lone forward starting role, Lukaku looks a secure attacking option for the Toffees at a time when Martinez dropped Kevin Mirallas to the bench last weekend – with Cardiff, Fulham and Sunderland and a double Gameweek 31 (SWA, new) in the next six, he’s bound to earn extra investment as a third forward option. Jagielka’s likely return in time for the Gameweek 30 clash with Cardiff also bodes well for the Toffees’ chances of defensive points. Martinez’ men chalked up their first clean sheet in six attempts last weekend and will be optimistic of further shut-outs, given that kind run of opponents.

Pardew Praise for Yanga-Mbiwa

The Newcastle manager discussed his decision to opt for Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa over Steven Taylor in the heart of his defence last week after Fabricio Coloccini was afforded time off due to a family bereavement:

“I took Mapou over Steven because I think Steven is a little bit uncomfortable on the left. He prefers Willo’s (Mike Williamson’s) channel. So I made the decision after the Spurs game that – Mapou and Colo on the left side, and Willo and Tayls will contest the right side. I couldn’t have asked for any more from Mapou. He was terrific. It’s given an opportunity to Mapou, which he’s taken. I’ll take that into consideration when I pick my next team, obviously.”

The Scout Says: The frank assessment lets us know that Taylor and Yanga-Mbiwa are essentially second-choice options, providing the Magpies boss has a full quota of defenders at his disposal. Given that Williamson has started every match since Gameweek 8, Taylor’s chances of game time look remote now – the former has recently dropped in price to 4.3 in FPL but has some decent short-term fixtures to follow. The Tyneside team have this weekend off, but if Coloccini returns, their clean sheet prospects look a little more enticing ahead of a trip to Fulham and double Gameweek 31, which hands Pardew’s side back-to-back home games against Palace and Everton.

Danes Unlikely to Risk Eriksen

Ruled out of Tottenham’s home win over Cardiff with a back problem last weekend , Christian Eriksen has joined up with the Denmark squad ahead of tonight’s friendly against England. National manager Morten Olsen has assured Tim Sherwood he won’t take any chances with the midfielder’s fitness for the Wembley showdown:

“If Eriksen could play we will use him, but he would have to be 100 per cent. When he is only 99 per cent he will not play. He’s a young player who has never had such an injury before, so it’s a difficult one to call. We have to wait and see, I think it’s always a game against time, probably he can play on Saturday for Tottenham. We will try tomorrow, but surely I know also the club manager, they have some difficult games coming up, in Europe. They can be sure that our medics are very good, our physios and the back specialist and so on. But Tottenham can be sure that if he’s any less than 100 per cent I will not use him.”

The Scout Says: Despite producing three goals and three assists in Sherwood’s first eight league games, Eriksen was dropped to the bench for the Gameweek 26 clash against Newcastle and has failed to feature domestically since. After grabbing a goal and assist in last week’s Europa League win over FC Dnipro, however, Eriksen’s display looked likely to secure a starting role against the Bluebirds before injury struck. The Dane’s loyal 4% of FPL owners have retained his services in recent weeks despite a price drop from 7.4 to 6.9, but if he’s ruled out of the weekend trip to Chelsea, subsequent games against Arsenal, Southampton and Liverpool are likely to see many more part company as we look to take advantage of double Gameweek 31.