Sergio Aguero could be back in full training by the end of the week and may make City’s bench at Goodison. Vincent Kompany and Edin Dzeko could also be in contention, according to the local press. Theo Walcott is keen to court caution with his fitness, Sadio Mane could yet feature for Senegal in the African Cup of Nations, whilst Stoke strengthen their defence with the acqusition of Leverkusen centre-half Philipp Wollscheid.
AGUERO AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Reports in the Manchester Evening News suggest that Sergio Aguero could be fit enough to make the bench for his side’s encounter with Everton this weekend, despite initial reports asserting that the Argentine wouldn’t be ready to return until the end of the month.
The Scout Says: It’s the news that we have all been waiting for, but most will still be looking for further confirmation before chasing after the Man City striker. Nonetheless, Aguero has featured as a substitute twice this season, and scored both times, suggesting that even a cameo role on Saturday could deliver the points for those willing to gamble on his fitness. A Goodison comeback would surely see a considerable spike in Wildcards next week, with managers likely to be scrambling to free up the funds to acquire the 12.3-rated forward’s services. With the same newspaper also reporting that Vincent Kompany and Edin Dzeko will be in contention to face the Toffees, Manuel Pellegrini’s squad will potentially be one Ivorian away from full strength – with Arsenal and Chelsea their next two opponents after Saturday, that couldn’t be more timely. The Stevan Jovetic bandwagon, meanwhile, could be derailed already thanks to Aguero and Dzeko’s possible returns; the Montenegrin has already earned over 16,000 new patrons thanks to his 11-point haul on New Year’s Day, but could now be subject to rotation with other strikers available for Pellegrini.
WALCOTT WON’T PUSH HIMSELF
Arsenal’s Theo Walcott has stated that he is happy with a cautious approach to his return to fitness after recently recovering from a groin injury that had kept him sidelined since November:
“I like to work week by week, so I forget about the big picture and the nine months (out). Week by week, hitting the goals and when you have achieved that, you can feel good about hitting something else. You want to come in (to training) and feel like you’re doing something each day. Even though it might be the same things at the start, you benefit when it comes to the end of it.”
The Scout Says: It would seem that Fantasy managers will have to wait a little while longer, then, before they can seriously consider Walcott as a differential option in midfield. If the 8.9-priced winger were fully fit, he’d surely be quick to say, and thus Arsene Wenger will likely remain cautious with his pitch time in the coming weeks. This news only strengthens Alexis Sanchez’s claim as the number one option in the Gunners’ ranks right now, and with three plum home fixtures in his next five (STK, AVL, LEI), the Chilean could be set to bring his two-match points drought to an end with a considerable bang. Santi Cazorla, with four goals and an assist in the last six, though, must also come into consideration, given that only 3% of managers have snapped up his services.
MANE’S AFRICA CUP DREAM STILL ALIVE
Reports yesterday revealed that Saido Mane could yet feature in the Africa Cup of Nations (ACoN) after making a quicker-than-expected recovery from the calf injury he suffered in Southampton’s New Year’s Day victory over Arsenal.
The Scout Says: The Saints originally ruled Mane out for four to six weeks, with Ronald Koeman claiming that the winger would miss the ACoN but, having been selected in the Senegal squad for the tournament, Mane could still feature if he can prove his fitness to their doctors. Should Senegal make it to the final of the competition, the Saints midfielder could now be unavailable until Gameweek 26, leaving Koeman with a hole to fill for five fixtures. With three goals and an assist in his last three league outings, Mane’s presence will undoubtedly be missed by the south coast outfit, though his absence will allow one of Shane Long or new boy Eljero Elia the chance to prove themselves on the flank, potentially putting Mane’s starting role under threat once he returns to domestic action as a result.
WOLLSCHEID JOINS STOKE
Stoke have confirmed the signing of centre-half Philipp Wollscheid on loan from Bayer Leverkusen. After the announcement, Mark Hughes spoke of the German’s prospects:
“Philipp is a player we’ve been aware of and have been tracking for some time and he will add to the competition for places in the centre of our defence. He’s got presence, technically he is good, he has played at a high level and he has gone for big money in the past and to get a German international at relatively young age is a good deal for the club. He’s genuinely excited about the prospect of playing in the Premier League and is confident of making a big impression as a Stoke player.”
The Scout Says: ‘Competition’: the word that strikes fear into Fantasy managers’ hearts. Judging by Hughes’ statement, it seems unlikely that Wollscheid will come straight into his first XI plans, though he will surely put pressure on the starting berth of Marc Muniesa, who has started the last four in the centre of defence alongside Ryan Shawcross. With the Potters conceding just once in their last three league displays and offering a decent schedule from Gameweek 22 onwards (QPR, new, MCI, avl, HUL), interest in their rearguard assets has been on the rise. With Wollscheid now in the mix for pitch time, however, the budget appeal of Muniesa looks to have taken a hit, leaving Geoff Cameron (4.2), Erik Pieters (4.6) and Ryan Shawcross (5.4) as the viable picks in the Potters’ backline.
SANDRO CLOSE TO COMEBACK
QPR’s Sandro is optimistic over making a return to full training in a “couple of weeks” after stepping up his recovery from a knee injury he suffered back in November.
The Scout Says: Unmistakeably a favourite of Harry Redknapp’s, Sandro will be confident of earning minutes once he is fully back in the frame, with his presence in front of a back four likely to prove beneficial to a side who continue to struggle defensively. Nonetheless, it’s worth noting that the Hoops have won just one of the seven games the Brazilian has started this season, suggesting a starting berth may not be so easy to come by, with Karl Henry proving a more reliable partner for Joey Barton in the centre of the park. Leroy Fer, at 5.6, remains the stand-out option in the R’s midfield, having produced three goals and an assist in his last eight appearances.
