Robin van Persie laughs off suggestions he may require knee surgery. Maroaune Chamakh could be back sooner than expected for Palace, Kyle Walker is set for further time on the sidelines for Spurs, while Peter Odemwingie may be out for the season.
VAN PERSIE DISPELS SURGERY RUMOURS
Robin van Persie has moved quickly to deny reports that had emerged in the last few days suggesting the Dutch international would require surgery on an ongoing knee problem. Speaking yesterday, the Man United forward highlighted the progress he still needs to make after starting the season late, but starkly refuted the suggestion that he would be undergoing surgery in the near future:
“I am impressed that people have the imagination to invent something like that. I do not know where it comes from and can say with my hand on my heart that I’m not in a hospital to have an operation. I had three weeks’ vacation and then had three good weeks of training. Last weekend I played an hour. Still without the desired result, but I’m assuming it will be okay.”
The Scout Says: Van Persie fit. Wayne Rooney fit. Juan Mata fit. Angel Di Maria fit. Radamel Falcao fit. But how do they all fit in? This is the question on all Fantasy managers’ minds right now, but we’ll have to wait until two weekends’ time to find out what Louis van Gaal plans to do with his plethora of attacking talent. A front pairing of Van Persie and Falcao looks the most popular reckoning right now, with Rooney being pushed back behind the front two or into midfield. This scenario would see the Englishman’s potential fall far behind his two team-mates, and guarantee a straight scrap between Van Persie and Falcao for our investment. The former remains the most expensive player in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) with a 12.5 price tag, with loan signing Falcao entering the game at 11.0, and RVP’s acknowledgement of his own lack of ‘results’ vindicates why 42,000 more managers have acquired the Colombian’s services than the Dutchman’s. Nonetheless, the question of which of United’s Galacticos will rise above his team-mates as the Fantasy asset of choice is a topic that looks set to dominate these parts for a good while yet.
CHAMAKH INJURY FEARS PLAYED DOWN
Reports suggest that the hamstring injury sustained by Crystal Palace’s Marouane Chamakh in his side’s 3-3 draw against Newcastle last weekend will keep the striker out of action for two to three weeks, rather than a month as initial reports suggested.
The Scout Says: With Chamakh’s absence now confirmed for Gameweek 4 and possibly 5, Neil Warnock and Fantasy managers alike will be considering their alternatives. The Moroccan has accrued a goal and assist already this season and had looked one of the stand-out options for the Eagles’ strong run of fixtures in their next four (BUR, eve, LEI, hul) before yesterday’s update. His short spell on the sidelines may allow Frazier Campbell the opportunity to return to the starting line-up alongside Dwight Gayle, though Warnock could instead choose to utilise loan-signing Wilfried Zaha in a central role. The former Eagles’ academy star has already acquired over 10,000 new owners in FPL since his goal-scoring performance for his new side last weekend, and that number could be set to rise significantly if Warnock does indeed signal his intent to use Zaha centrally.
ETO’O ENCOURAGED TO BUILD FITNESS
Roberto Martinez hopes this week’s international break will offer new signing Samuel Eto’o – recently retired from Cameroon’s international side – the chance to focus upon his match sharpness and fitness levels:
“He’s fitted into the dressing room really well so I am really happy to see him have that big impact and we have to work extremely hard to get him up to speed so he can play 90 minutes in every game.”
The Scout Says: Whilst Martinez’ words suggest that Eto’o is likely to be fully up to speed come two Saturday’s time when the Toffees face West Brom, Fantasy managers should remain aware that – thanks to Capital One Cup and Europa League duties – Everton face a daunting seven fixtures in just 22 days from Gameweek 4 onwards, suggesting that rotation may well be on the cards for the majority of their assets. However, Eto’o’s goal against former employers Chelsea last weekend in a 21-minute appearance from the bench highlighted what the 6.0-priced striker is capable of even when not fully fit, and will give managers optimism that he can still produce even if he misses out on a starting spot.
KNEE SURGERY REQUIRED FOR ODEMWINGIE
Stoke City’s Peter Odemwingie may miss the rest of the 2014/15 season with cruciate ligament damage sustained during his side’s surprise victory against Manchester City last Saturday. Mark Hughes confirmed that the winger will be sidelined for the foreseeable future, and highlighted that the loan acquisition of Oussama Assaidi form Liverpool came as a result of this news:
“It’s unfortunate that we look like being without Peter for a while, but following his setback we felt it was important that we moved to bolster the resources at our disposal.”
The Scout Says: Although the Nigerian now seems likely to remain out of action for the majority, if not the whole, of the season, the competition for places on the wings for the Potters remains hotter than ever. Hughes’ move for Assaidi suggests that the likes of Jonathan Walters, Victor Moses or Marko Arnautovic are vying for the roles on the flanks for his side, and Fantasy managers looking to take advantage of Stoke’s superb upcoming schedule (LEI, qpr, NEW, sun, SWA) are advised to focus their attentions on the Potters’ back-line or last weekend’s goal-scoring hero Mame Biram Diouf until Hughes’ plan with his midfield options becomes clearer. Bojan Krkic’s pitch time continues to look questionable as a result of Hughes’ shopping spree.
WALKER GOES UNDER THE KNIFE
Having been missing for his side since pre-season, Tottenham right back Kyle Walker has undergone lower abdominal surgery. No news has emerged yet regarding how long he will remain out of action.
The Scout Says: Going into the new season, Walker’s 6.0 price tag made him the most expensive Spurs defender along with Jan Vertonghen, with the full-back’s raids down the right flank having proved prosperous in previous years. A lengthy absence looks likely, however, ensuring that Walker’s season won’t be getting underway anytime soon. In stark contrast, Eric Dier’s campaign has got off to a flying start with two goals in three appearances for the summer signing from Sporting Lisbon, and his starting role in Mauricio Pochettino’s side now appears set to continue for the near future, though Kyle Naughton does offer an alternative. Spurs face Sunderland, West Brom and Southampton in the next four Gameweeks, and the north London outfit will be hopeful of adding to the two clean sheet sheets they have already recorded this season in that run of fixtures.
