We take our usual Sunday evening look at the number of new injuries picked up over the weekend’s fixtures, with United nursing a number of concerns in the final third.
Chelsea
Kurt Zouma was selected ahead of Gary Cahill for this afternoon’s draw with Liverpool but lasted just 35 minutes before being subbed off through injury. Petr Cech missed out altogether with a slight neck problem.
Everton
Leighton Baines is set for scans after being forced off through injury 74 minutes into the Toffees’ 2-0 home loss to Sunderland. Post-match, Roberto Martinez went on to say:
“We are going to assess his ankle. He was really suffering, it was very painful so at that point we couldn’t take any risks. We are going to assess him over the next 48 hours and find out if he is going to be available for the rest of the season.â€
Leicester
Nigel Pearson is sweating on the fitness of Matty James, after the midfielder was stretchered off during yesterday’s clash with Southampton. Post-match, the Foxes boss seemed pessimistic over the midfielder’s injury before also revealing that substitute David Nugent picked up a problem in the 2-0 win:
“We had to deal with a couple of injuries throughout the game. Matty James picked up what looks to be quite a serious knee injury then Nuge (David Nugent) going on as a sub and not being able to finish the game at full tilt. It potentially gives you a few problems. Credit to the players though, they dealt with what they had to today. [For Matty James] It really is a case of getting the scan done and taking it from there. It doesn’t look to be at all encouraging. It could be a serious knee injury, but we’ll wait and see what the scan tells us. With Nuge it’ll be a case of having a scan and seeing where we go.”
Reports also indicate that Leonardo Ulloa sustained a hamstring problem before making way for Nugent.
Manchester United
Luke Shaw and Wayne Rooney were both withdrawn due to injury during United’s trip to Palace. After the 2-1 win, Louis van Gaal played down the pair’s problems:
“It was very bad because our team was out of balance. Phil Jones had to play as a left full-back. Rooney has a dead leg so I had to change things that were not in our favour at that time, but still these in circumstances, we fought until the end and we have beaten Crystal Palace. Shaw took an elbow and had a bloody nose, but he went to the hospital and I have already heard that he shall fly home with us so I don’t think it is very bad. Out of precaution, we took him off. Rooney had a dead leg so next week he is healthy and fit to play.â€
Robin van Persie and Angel di Maria missed out at Selhurst Park due to illness and injury respectively, whilst Chris Smalling was subbed off after suffering cramp. Van Gaal admitted the defender wasn’t playing particularly well prior to being hauled off:
“[Smalling] was stumbling and I don’t think he played his best match so that’s why I changed. He had cramp, you could see it because he was pulling at his toes.
Newcastle
Vurnon Anita was withdrawn late on after sustaining an injury during the Magpies draw with West Brom.
QPR
Sandro was unable to feature in today’s trip to City due to issues with his UK Residency visa.
