Didier Drogba is a doubt for Chelsea’s double Gameweek due to an ankle injury. Question marks remain over David Nugent’s availability for Leicester. Robin van Persie steps up his recovery for United, whilst Leroy Fer could return to boost QPR’s survival bid this weekend.
Drogba facing fitness race for Gunners tie
Didier Drogba was forced to withdraw from playing in the Match Against Poverty charity game in St Etienne with an ankle complaint, rendering him a doubt for Chelsea’s visit to the Emirates on Sunday to face Arsenal. The Blues forward revealed his frustration on Twitter over not being able to feature in the fundraising fixture.
“Disappointed not to be able to play the #MAP2015 because of an ankle injury but still supporting.”
The Scout Says: With Diego Costa ruled out of the Gunners meeting and Loic Remy still touch-and-go for the crunch tie due to a muscle injury, manager Jose Mourinho could be forced to mastermind a win over the North London club with no senior strikers at his disposal. In the event that all three miss out, the Portuguese boss might elect to field one of his better finishers from midfield in a false nine role, with Willian or Juan Cuadrado a potential beneficiary of a more advanced berth. As we’ve seen in the last two Gameweeks, Mourinho has had no problems with parking the bus and relying on his resilient defence – a scenario which may persuade Fantasy managers to double up on the Blues backline in light of their back-to-back shut-outs against QPR and United.
Nugent doubtful for Turf Moor clash
Leicester City forward David Nugent is in a race to be fit for their trip to Burnley this Saturday after picking up a calf strain in the warm-up before the Swansea City fixture. Foxes boss Nigel Pearson remains optimistic that the forward will recover quickly:
“With Nuge it is a calf problem and until we get a scan on it, we don’t know how long he will be out. Generally speaking when he has had this problem before, he is a quick healer but we will have to wait for the results.”
The Scout Says: Although Leicester performed admirably without Nugent against the Swans – securing a 2-0 victory at the King Power Stadium – his continued absence would be a real blow to their hopes of beating the drop. The English frontman has come alive at the back-end of the season, notching two goals and an assist in his last three starts and, in response to his strike against West Bromwich Albion in Gameweek 32 and the Foxes’ upcoming double Gameweek (bur, CHE), he was recruited by 11,000 FPL managers before the Swansea clash. The 4.9-priced forward offers us an in-form option in a Leicester attack that’s netted more goals (10) than any side in the league in the last four Gameweeks, though his continued absence would persuade more to turn to Jamie Vardy (two goals, two assists in last four) or Leonardo Ulloa (a goal and assist in previous two) as a route into Pearson’s flourishing side.
Fer targeting Hammers return
Leroy Fer resumed training with the first team on Monday and expects to be passed fit for Queens Park Rangers’ weekend encounter against West Ham United. The former Norwich City midfielder told QPR’s official site:
“I hope to be 100 per cent ready for the West Ham game. I don’t want to say how many minutes I will be able to play if I am involved, but I will try to do everything I can until I can’t anymore. With just five games to go, I just want to throw everything into these games. It has been really frustrating to watch from the sidelines. We have played really well but only picked up four points in the games I have missed. You really want to be able to help the team, so it’s been hard.”
The Scout Says: With four strikes in 12 starts before he suffered the knee injury at Sunderland, Fer was developing into a handy source of goals for the R’s. However, with Matty Phillips delivering two goals and three assists in his last five starts under Chris Ramsey, few will be willing to take a punt on the Dutchman. With three tough road matches (liv, mci, lei) on the horizon for QPR, it’s fair to say they will struggle to justify any level of investment at this point as we turn to the double Gameweek sides instead.
Lee eyes up starting role during Eagles run-in
Crystal Palace winger Chung-Yong Lee is stepping up his rehabilitation from a hairline fracture and believes he can get back to full fitness in time for their home tie against Hull City. Lee began full training on Tuesday and is confident that playing for the U21 side this week will set him up to feature for Alan Pardew’s outfit during the run-in:
“Tuesday was my first day of full training with the first-team. It was tough but I enjoyed it. I’m not worried about my injury. I can’t feel any pain now. I just need to get my fitness levels up and make sure that it is right, that is all I’m concentrating on right now. Before I play for the first team I need to play an U21 game. That will be a help for me.I want to be in the team for the last four or five games.”
The Scout Says: Notwithstanding their shock 2-0 defeat to the Baggies last Gameweek, the Eagles’ offense has been in full flight of late, recording 11 goals between Gameweek 29 and 32. With Wilfried Zaha (two goals in five) and Yannick Bolasie (three in two) exercising a hold on their respective wing berths, Lee would likely serve as an impact sub upon his return. Despite the recent attacking returns of Palace’s wide men, their tricky run-in (HUL, che, MUN, liv, SWA) heightens the risk of drafting in any of Pardew’s men.
Dummett in contention for Swans start
Newcastle United defender Paul Dummett has recovered well from a knee injury that’s kept him out of action for the past two months and could be in line for a start against Swansea City on the weekend.
The Scout Says: Dummett’s potential reinstatement would serve as a huge boost for the Magpies’ beleaguered defence. On route to six successive defeats, John Carver’s men have conceded 12 goals while only replying with two of their own. Although the Tyneside club admittedly fared little better during Dummett’s previous four starts – shipping nine goals – he looks likely to earn a return, providing he can prove his fitness. This could see him oust Vernon Anita from the left-back berth or slot in at centre-half, with Mike Williamson dropping out – potentially allowing Ryan Taylor to retain the central midfield role he occupied against Spurs on Sunday. Newcastle now embark on a favourable quintet of fixtures (SWA, lei, WBA, qpr, WHU) that should harvest enough points to stave off relegation.
Villa duo step up recovery
Philippe Senderos and Aly Cissokho both played 90 minutes for Aston Villa’s U21 squad in a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United.
The Scout Says: The Villains’ rearguard is currently beset with injuries so news of the duo’s imminent return to action provides a timely boost to Tim Sherwood ahead of their concluding five matches. With Nathan Baker limping off against Liverpool at the weekend, the Villa boss looks likely to partner Ron Vlaar with Jores Okore for the run-in, whilst Cissokho’s return offers competition to Kieran Richardson at left-back. With two clean sheets in nine under the new manager, though, Villa have been far from resilient and any interest looks likely to be heaped on Christian Benteke, with three home matches in the final four (EVE, WHU, BUR) boosting the Belgian’s appeal up front.
Van Persie on verge of Red Devils return
Robin Van Persie logged 62 minutes of pitch time in Manchester United U21’s 1-1 draw against Leicester City, providing the assist for Sean Goss’ equaliser.
The Scout Says: Van Persie’s involvement for the rest of the campaign is largely dependent on the health of Michael Carrick. Louis Van Gaal’s side enjoyed a run of six consecutive victories before the England international was ruled out of the Chelsea head-to-head with a calf injury and his absence saw Wayne Rooney drop into central midfield, with Radamel Falcao handed a rare start up front.If Carrick’s returns quickly, though, Van Gaal will surely revert to the 4-1-4-1 set-up that saw them best the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and rivals Manchester City during their winning streak, with Rooney acting as the lone striker once again. A stint on the sidelines for Carrick could allow Van Persie to leap ahead of Falcao for the role up top if the versatile Rooney is forced to drop deeper again.
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