With only tonight’s Etihad encounter between City and West Brom left in the Gameweek, we scour the nine matches played out over Saturday and Sunday and analyse the post-match reports for news of any fresh injury concerns:
Arsenal
Thomas Vermaelen’s run of four successive starts came to an end yesterday afternoon after he missed the Gunners’ 3-0 win over Hull with a hamstring injury.
Cardiff
Craig Bellamy missed the home draw against Stoke due to a virus, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed post-match, with the veteran expected back in training on Monday.
Chelsea
Petr Cech missed Saturday evening’s home draw with Sunderland due to a minor illness, according to the Blues’ official twitter stream. Samuel Eto’o is expected to miss tomorrow’s Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid due to a knee problem.
Everton
Sylvain Distin was forced off with a hamstring problem during yesterday’s win over United. After the match, Roberto Martinez issued an update on the Frenchman’s fitness:
“”Sylvain will have a scan tomorrow. He felt his hamstring. I just hope we pulled him out of the game just in time. If it’s damaged, it will be difficult for him to play again this season. But, if not, maybe within a week or 10 days he will be fine.”
Fulham
Kieran Richardson, Mamadou Diarra and Sascha Riether all missed the Cottagers’ trip to Spurs due to muscle, knee and illness problems respectively. Felix Magath also confirmed Scott Parker was forced off before the hour mark after picking up a muscle problem but remains confident all four will be available for next weekend:
“We had problems before the game – injured or ill players – and had to change the team. Riether is ill so he stayed at home, Richardson tried this morning but he has a muscle problem and Diarra has knee problems. Parker took a kick on the muscle but he is confident he can play next week – I think all the players will be fine for then.”
Johnny Heitinga was also withdrawn during the game with a knock, according to the Fulham post-match report.
Hull
Shane Long was withdrawn at the break in yesterday’s loss to Arsenal with a calf complaint. Sone Aluko missed out altogether with a minor hamstring problem.
Man United
Patrice Evra missed yesterday’s trip to Everton due to a knee problem, according to the local press. Nemanja Vidic was also omitted from the matchday squad with a headache.
Newcastle
Papiss Cisse and Luuk de Jong were both forced off in the first-half of the Magpies’ home loss to Swansea with knee and ankle problems respectively. Cisse left the stadium on crutches on Saturday night, whilst de Jong sported a foot brace as the injuries continue to hamper Alan Pardew’s plans – reports in the local press this afternoon indicate that Cisse is set to miss the remainder of the season, with scans revealing he has suffered a broken knee cap which will require surgery.
Stoke
Erik Pieters lasted less than half an hour of the Potters’ trip to Cardiff before being withdrawn due to illness, Mark Hughes has confirmed.
Sunderland
Two-goal hero Connor Wickham was replaced late on in the win over Chelsea after picking up a knock.
West Ham
Guy Demel missed the Hammers’ 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace due to illness, according to reports in the local press.
10 years, 2 months agoThink Rooney is a must have for the next few fixtures. Best captain material.
Are either of these worth a hit?
A) Lukaku & Baines > Rooney & Kos (-4)
B) Lukaku & Gerard > Rooney & Ramsey (-4)