Vincent Kompany recovers from a calf problem to play the full 90 minutes for Belgium. Edin Dzeko and Loic Remy are amongst the goals for Bosnia and France, Marcos Rojo is in line for his United debut after finally receiving a work permit, while reports suggest Siem de Jong could be set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a groin injury in training for Newcastle.
KOMPANY RECOVERY AIDS BELGIUM
City skipper Vincent Kompany recovered from a calf problem to play the full 90 minutes for Belgium last night in their straightforward 2-0 victory over Australia.
The Scout Says: Kompany’s owners will have rested a little easier last night after reports earlier in the week suggested the centre-back could be a doubt for his side’s showdown with Arsenal in eight days’ time. With new boy Eliaquim Mangala still struggling to reach full fitness, the Blues’ chances of shutting out the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey will surely depend on a solid showing from their captain in the heart of defence. Would-be suitors of the 6.5-valued Belgian should be wary though, as the match against Arsenal is followed by the visit of current table-toppers Chelsea to the Etihad in Gameweek 5. Beyond that, however, City face Hull, Aston Villa and West Ham in their next four, and clean sheets look on the menu for Kompany and co.
DZEKO ON TARGET IN BOSNIA WIN
Elsewhere for City, Edin Dzeko notched the 37th goal of his international career as Bosnia ran out 3-0 winners against Liechtenstein.
The Scout Says: With Sergio Aguero now fully fit for Manuel Pellegrini’s side, Dzeko is set to go head-to-head with Stevan Jovetic for the starting spot alongside the talismanic Argentine in the Blues’ attack. It was a contest that the 8.5-priced Dzeko lost out on last time out, only taking to the field for 28 minutes as a second-half substitute, and the Bosnian has subsequently been sold on by over 42,000 managers so far this week. However, City’s dismal display in their 1-0 loss to Stoke last weekend suggests Pellegrini will be tempted to make alterations for his side’s trip to Arsenal in Gameweek 4, and Dzeko and his remaining owners will be hopeful that the forward can return to the starting line-up and build on the momentum from last night’s goal-scoring display.
REMY FIRES FRANCE TO VICTORY
Chelsea’s latest recruit Loic Remy emerged from the substitutes bench for France last night to strike his side’s only goal in a 1-0 friendly win over Spain, whose starting line-up included Remy’s new teammates Cesc Fabregas, Cesar Azpilicueta and Diego Costa.
The Scout Says: Unfortunately for Remy’s 4.5% ownership in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, the striker looks another name now added to the list of previously popular Fantasy options whose potential has been almost entirely eradicated after summer moves (think Rickie Lambert and Bacary Sagna). With Costa’s recent injury scare now long forgotten, the in-form Spaniard’s spot in Jose Mourinho’s starting XI looks almost untouchable, hence the chances of Remy getting anywhere near last season’s tally of 14 goals this time round appear minimal at best.
ROJO CLEARED FOR UNITED BOW
The controversy surrounding the work permit of Manchester United’s summer signing Marcus Rojo has finally been resolved, and the former Sporting Lisbon defender is now available to make his debut for the Old Trafford outfit when they face QPR in Gameweek 4.
The Scout Says: It’s not only at the attacking end of the pitch that Louis Van Gaal now has some personnel decisions to make. Rojo’s availability could see the 6.0-priced defender come straight into United’s starting line-up as a centre-back in two Sunday’s time, with youngster Tyler Blackett looking most likely to drop to the bench. On the other hand, Van Gaal might instead choose to utilise Rojo as a left wing back – anyone who followed this summer’s World Cup will have noticed the Argentinian’s effectiveness in driving up the flank, and his new manager may opt to tap into that potential. Either way, with Daley Blind’s potential seriously curtailed by his classification in FPL as a midfielder, and Luke Shaw still sidelined with a hamstring injury, Rojo may now emerge as United’s key defensive asset in the coming weeks as his side’s kind run of fixtures continues (QPR, lei, WHM, EVE, wba).
GROIN SCARE FOR DE JONG
Reports suggest that Newcastle’s summer signing Siem de Jong has suffered a groin tear in training and could face up to four months out of action. The Dutchman has only just made his comeback from a calf problem, but may now return to the injury list alongside teammate Jack Colback, who withdrew from England’s international squad with a calf knock at the start of the week.
The Scout Says: Expectations were high for De Jong following his acquisition from Ajax, but the midfielder is now beginning to adopt the unwelcome label of ‘injury prone’ (bear in mind he was injured five times for Ajax last season alone). Having only made one start so far this term after picking up a calf problem in pre-season, the 7.0-priced man’s campaign has really yet to get going, and if yesterday’s reports are correct, that could remain the case until Christmas time. Moussa Sissoko offers an option to replace de Jong in the ‘hole’, but with Colback also a doubt for the Magpies’ Gameweek 4 visit of Southampton, Sissoko may well continue in a midfield role, allowing Remy Cabella the chance to shift in behind the lone striker. This scenario could also see Pardew hand Rolando Aarons his first league start on the wing – the young midfielder has impressed in both of his substitute appearances this season, picking up a goal and assist against Crystal Palace last Saturday, and should the de Jong rumours be true, Aarons, at just 5.0, could prove a quality budget option for the next few months.
