We take another look around the treatment rooms this evening to assess the latest batch of injuries sustained over the weekend action. Tony Pulis has worries up front, Leighton Baines is a concern for Everton, whilst Gylfi Sigurdsson is doubtful for the Swans’ trip to Tottenham.
Arsenal
The Gunners have concerns over Francis Coquelin after the midfield battler was forced off with a broken nose against Everton. After the 2-0 win, Arsene Wenger went on to say:
“Yes [he has broken his nose]. I don’t know [how long he will be out], I hope not. I don’t know whether he will need surgery or not. They told me he was bleeding but that he could stay on. The second time he was hit again so after that I had to take him off. I had been told by the medical people that he could stay on. He wanted to stay on. He didn’t play here for a long time so now that he plays, of course he doesn’t want to come off the pitch”.
Aston Villa
Tim Sherwood’s worries at left-back continued yesterday. Deprived of both Aly Cissokho and Kieran Richardson for the trip to Newcastle, the Villa boss handed Matt Lowton a rare start only to see the defender forced off through injury in the last ten minutes of the 1-0 loss.
Crystal Palace
Jordon Mutch lasted just 32 minutes of the Eagles’ 3-1 win over West Ham before being forced off with a thigh injury.
Everton
Leighton Baines missed today’s loss at Arsenal with a leg problem sustained in training. Speaking to the club’s website, Roberto Martinez revealed the left-back has question marks hanging over his availability for the midweek trip to the Britannia:
”We tried to give Leighton a breather against Young Boys on Thursday in the Europa League so that he was fully fit for today, but unfortunately he got a knock to his left quad on Friday and was out of this squad. I don’t know if he is going to be available for Wednesday – I doubt it.”
Hull
Robbie Brady seems poised for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a calf complaint in training prior to yesterday’s loss at Stoke. Tigers boss Steve Bruce revealed:
”Brady pulled up with a horrible calf injury yesterday. He could be out for weeks, months. Unfortunately he’s damaged his calf really, really badly. He couldn’t walk yesterday.”
Bruce also explained the reasons behind the omission of front two Nikica Jelavic and Dame N’Doye from the starting line-up, with the latter travelling back to Russia earlier in the week:
”Unfortunately, Jelavic’s knee was sore yesterday morning so we couldn’t take a risk there and N’Doye has been halfway around the world again this week.”
Hull are also sweating over the fitness of David Meyler after the midfielder was withdrawn due to injury at the Britannia.
Liverpool
Jordon Ibe missed today’s win over City due to injury, according to the local press.
Man United
Louis van Gaal was without Phil Jones and Luke Shaw for the 2-0 win over Sunderland, whilst back-up stopper Victor Valdes also missed out. Speaking to MUTV, the Dutchman went on to say:
“Shaw had a tight hamstring and Jones was ill. I cannot put players who are ill and tired in my line-up. Victor Valdes also has a problem and wasn’t on the bench. I had to make three changes during our final day of preparation.”
Newcastle
Massadio Haidara was stretchered off during the Magpies 1-0 win over Villa but according to the local press, the defender has confirmed his withdrawal was no more than precautionary.
Manager John Carver is also optimistic on a quick return for the cut-priced defender:
“It’s his knee. He’s got an on-going issue with it, but it’s not too serious, so we will see what he’s like tomorrow. Hopefully, he should be available for Wednesday.”
Stoke
Mark Hughes is set to be without Stephen Ireland for the foreseeable future after the midfielder was withdrawn at half-time with a calf injury wound against Hull. Post-match, a livid Hughes slammed the tackle by Tigers’ defender Maynor Figueroa:
“It was a shocking challenge. It could have finished Stephen’s career. Why it is not a straight red, I have no idea. There has been a lot of talk of challenges recently but this was worse than any of them. We have lost Stephen for any number of weeks. He is in a bad way. He has a slice on his calf and needed 12 or 15 stitches. He has come in at half-time, rolled his sock down, and everyone was taken aback by the severity of the gash.”
Sunderland
The Black Cats’ on-loan winger Ricky Alvarez is rated as “touch and go” for the midweek clash against Hull, according to Gus Poyet.
Swansea
Gylfi Sigurdsson missed the Swans’ 1-0 win at Burnley with “a slight hamstring concern”, according to the club’s official website.
West Brom
Tony Pulis is facing a potential crisis up front ahead of the Baggies’ midweek derby against Villa. With Victor Anichebe missing out due to a groin problem, both Saido Berahino and Brown Ideye were given pain-killing injections prior to yesterday’s win over Southampton but neither player was able to finish the match. After watching his strikers hobble off, the West Brom manager conceded:
“Berahino has not trained all week and he might have to do that next week. It’s to do with his ankle or foot. We have a weakness up front in terms of numbers. The last 15 or 20 minutes we have had to play Stephane Sessegnon up there. Brown Ideye and Saido were both carrying knocks even before the game. It just shows they have got good spirit in the dressing room and people want to play. Saido had an injection before the game and maybe he should have one before every game, scoring goals like that. We will dust them all down and see where we are.”
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