Bojan fires Stoke’s opener at Rochdale before limping off with a knee injury. Gus Poyet is optimistic on Adam Johnson’s chances of making the weekend clash with Burnley, Matthew Upson steps up his recovery for Leicester, whilst Ki Sung-Yeung and Yannick Bolasie are set to miss weekend domestic duties as their international commitments continue.
Bojan Concern for Potters
Mark Hughes made just a couple of changes to his XI for last night’s trip to Rochdale. Jack Butland was afforded a rare start between the sticks as Asmir Begovic was rested and fit-again skipper Ryan Shawcross returned to the heart of the back four at the expense of Marc Muniesa. This saw Marc Wilson continue at left-back as Erik Pieters missed out again, whilst Hughes retained Jon Walters as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1, with Bojan tucked in behind.
The latter struck a superb volleyed opener before being forced off with a knee problem just after the half-hour mark. Initial reports suggest he left the ground on crutches, though Hughes admitted he was uncertain of the prognosis:
“We will have to get him checked out because we aren’t too sure yet. I’m in the dark about the situation at the moment. He jarred his knee unfortunately and will have to go for a scan to assess what the problem was. Hopefully he will be ok, and it is nothing too serious. We can’t say anything else at the moment, it is just a case of getting him checked out.”
Victor Moses and Stephen Ireland (on as a replacement for Bojan) both bagged a goal and assist in the 4-1 win, with Walters also finding the net late on courtesy of a Marko Arnautovic assist.
The Scout Says: As Stoke’s momentum continues to build ahead of a superb upcoming schedule, Fantasy managers will be contemplating investment. There’s no doubt the 5.0-priced Bojan’s possible absence would be a bitter blow for Hughes’ side – the Spaniard has finally started to find his feet and notched in three of the last eight league matches, including a winner at Leicester last time out. With seven excellent fixtures in the next eight (QPR, new, avl, HUL, EVE, wba, CPL), the Potters are well placed to take advantage and the likes of Moses and Walters, at 5.2 apiece, offer tempting cut-price options for our five-man midfields. The latter may be ousted to the flank upon Mame Biram Diouf’s return from the Africa Cup of Nations, though, whilst fit-again Moses is starting to rediscover his form after serving up a goal and four assists in eight appearances earlier in the season before succumbing to a thigh injury.
Poyet Hopeful on Johnson
The Black Cats boss remains optimistic that Adam Johnson will recover from the calf complaint that forced him to miss the weekend cup draw against Fulham. Poyet was a little more uncertain over Wes Brown’s chances of making the Clarets clash, though:
“We need the players to be ready. We’ve got lot of games coming up and now we have a player who is suspended so someone will have to jump in. I would like to say that Adam Johnson will be back [for the Burnley game]; we’ll have to wait on Wes [Brown] and see what happens over the next few days.”
The Scout Says: With three goals in his last six league appearances, Johnson had started to pick up some Fantasy interest ahead of some excellent fixtures for the Wearsiders. Poyet’s men have three excellent home encounters in the next four (BUR, QPR, WBA) in addition to a trip to Swansea and it’s worth noting that the 6.0-priced midfielder was moved to a central berth behind Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher as Poyet rolled out a 3-5-2 away to Spurs last time out, with the Black Cats boss keen to hand him a roving role in the final third. Whilst Brown’s possible absence could hand Seb Coates a chance, the recent change of formation has seen Patrick van Aanholt (4.2) and Billy Jones (4.5) utilised as wing-backs, with the cut-price Dutchman the likeliest candidate for those looking past Costel Pantilimon’s 4.8 points per appearance between the posts.
Upson Steps Up Recovery
The centre-half made his third appearance since arriving at Leicester in the summer by turning out for the club’s reserves in a goalless draw with Tottenham yesterday.
The Scout Says: After sitting on the sidelines with a foot injury for the majority of the season, it remains to be seen just where a fully fit Matt Upson will sit in the pecking order under Nigel Pearson. With skipper Wes Morgan likely to retain his start regardless and Liam Moore falling out of favour, the 3.9-priced Upson could vie with Marcin Wasilewski (4.0) for pitch time. The latter’s budget appeal has earned him a place in 4% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) sides after starting each of the last 13 Gameweeks, with many snapping him up as a cheap fifth defender – with United, Palace, Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea and City in the next six, it’s fair to say he’ll be staying on our benches for the time being. Jeffrey Schlupp’s out-of-position berth on the left of midfield brings him into contention here, though the Ghana international may have to rely on attacking returns until the fixtures turn kinder in Gameweek 29.
Swans Made to Wait on Ki Return
The midfielder is set to miss next weekend’s clash with Southampton after South Korea reached the final of the Asia Cup yesterday. A 2-0 win over Iraq means Ki will square up to either Australia or the United Arab Emirates on Sunday – the same day as Garry Monk’s men make their way to St Mary’s.
The Scout Says: A vital member of Monk’s XI, Ki had started all but one of the opening 20 Gameweeks before international commitments forced him out of domestic contention. Since his departure, Swansea have picked up just two points in three matches, though the South Korean will be back in time for a home clash against Sunderland, and with vital clashes against West Brom and Burnley to follow, his presence will be crucial as Monk looks to steady the ship. With Gylfi Sigurdsson now set for a three-match ban and Wilfried Bony off to City, Ki could be handed spot-kicks for the Welsh outfit, though Sigurdsson’s absence is likely to hand Jonjo Shelvey (5.2) the role in “the hole”, for those who feel Monk’s men will prevail over those fixtures.
Bolasie Advances with DR Congo
The Palace winger played the full 90 minutes as DR Congo secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. Bolasie’s side managed to progress despite failing to win any of their group matches and will now face neighbours Congo next Sunday – ruling him out of the weekend home encounter with Everton.
The Scout Says: Arguably the club’s star player this season, Bolasie’s absence was initially expected to see the Eagles struggle but Alan Pardew’s arrival has sparked a transformation. With the Congolese winger out of the picture, Pardew has fielded striker Dwight Gayle on the left and has been rewarded with three goals and an assist in the last two league matches, though with competition for our three-man frontlines so fierce, many have turned to Jason Puncheon instead. Drafted in by over 30,000 FPL managers since the previous deadline, the 5.5-priced midfielder has also delivered a goal in both his appearances under the new man in charge and is starting to find the form that saw him rack up 131 points last season. Pardew’s first-choice XI remains to be seen, then, with Bolasie potentially out of the picture until Gameweek 26 if he reaches the final.
