Pedro is ruled out of Chelsea’s trip to Norwich with a hamstring injury. Man United and Liverpool face more problems in defence, whilst Leicester wait for news on their midfield dynamo ahead of Tuesday’s home clash with the Baggies.
Bournemouth
Junior Stanislas lasted just 23 minutes of the Cherries goalless draw against Watford before being withdrawn due to a hamstring complaint. After the match, Eddie Howe went on to say:
“It appears to be a hamstring which is a real blow for us. Junior has been outstanding for us this season, a real creative force and it came out of nothing. He had said he felt really good in the build-up to the game. It was just one of those things so we will have to get it scanned to see how long he will be out.”
Stanislas’ injury allowed the fit-again Max Gradel to emerge from the bench, signaling the end of his six-month injury absence. Gradel bagged three assists in his final two league outings before sustaining a knee problem in late August and bearing in mind that Matt Ritchie is Bournemouth’s top player for assists, with just four, the Ivorian looks likely to be unleashed from the start in the midweek home clash with Southampton.
Chelsea
Pedro was forced off with just seven minutes on the clock during the Blues’ win at Southampton yesterday. Post-match, Guus Hiddink conceded that the Spaniard could be sidelined until the Blues’ FA Cup clash with Everton on March 12:
“Pedro has got a problem with his hamstrings. We have a tight schedule now, Norwich on Tuesday then we have Stoke and then PSG and then the Everton game. (He is) very short on the Everton game, I think he might be fit at that time but I don’t know.”
Pedro’s absence looks set to hand Oscar a chance to return to Guus Hiddink’s starting line-up for the midweek trip to Norwich. Having missed the 5-1 home win over Newcastle due to injury, the Brazilian was afforded an 83-minute run-out as the Spaniard’s replacement at the weekend and seems in line to line up alongside Eden Hazard and Willian in the attacking midfield spots behind Diego Costa at Carrow Road.
Crystal Palace
The Eagles are sweating over the fitness of Yohan Cabaye after the playmaker limped off with just over 10 minutes remaining of yesterday’s 3-2 loss to West Brom.
Leicester
Claudio Ranieri is optimistic that N’Golo Kante will recover from a hamstring problem in time for the Foxes’ home match against West Brom:
“I don’t know now (how serious it is) we will check tomorrow (Sunday) morning. I hope it is not so long because he is important. But King replaced him very, very well. He felt something to his hamstring. He always felt something and we manage him during the training sessions. I think it is nothing serious.”
A possible absence for Kante could be a big blow to the Foxes as they look to rack up a seventh straight clean sheet at the King Power as West Brom roll up in midweek. Kante sits top amongst midfielders for successful tackles and interceptions and is placed third for recoveries, underlining his importance to their defensive cause.
Liverpool
The Reds’ centre-half Mamadou Sakho was replaced with just 25 minutes on the clock after coming off worse in a clash of heads with team-mate Emre Can.
If Sakho is ruled out against City in midweek, Jurgen Klopp could be forced to field makeshift centre-back pairing Lucas and Kolo Toure if the Merseysiders’ injury situation fails to ease, boosting Sergio Aguero’s armband prospects at Anfield.
Man United
In his first start since Gameweek 13, Marcos Rojo lasted just 55 minutes before being forced off with an ankle issue against Arsenal this afternoon. Post-match, Louis van Gaal went on to say:
“I don’t think it is serious; it was a kick. We have to wait and see, of course. It was also a good position that I gave him the first minutes to play. My plan was already 60 minutes. He didn’t reach the 60 minutes because of the kick.”
Rojo’s injury adds to Van Gaal’s injury problems, though the performance of replacement Tim Fosu-Mensah at left-back suggests that the teenager may well get the nod at home to Watford in midweek if the Argentine fails to recover. With Chris Smalling absent due to a shoulder injury, though, United have now kept just a single shut-out in five, with Van Gaal forced to field Michael Carrick alongside Daley Blind at centre-half against the Gunners.
Norwich
Canaries boss Alex Neil revealed that Seb Bassong and Wes Hoolahan are big doubts for the midweek encounter against Chelsea after both missed the trip to Leicester with problems picked up in training:
“The two weren’t ready. They were carrying wee knocks. It is touch and go for Tuesday. We’ll have to monitor that over the next day or two.”
Watford
Hornets boss Quique Sanchez Flores revealed that Etienne Capoue was withdrawn before the hour-mark due to fatigue, as the schedule continues to pick up pace:
“Capoue is a very important player for us but he has played nearly every minute. I felt he was a little bit tired. He wasn’t clear in his mind and wasn’t choosing (the right options) well. It isn’t normal for Capoue but it’s possible (he was tired) Tomorrow we will talk with him but I have no worries about him.”
West Brom
The Baggies are sweating over Chris Brunt’s fitness after the Irishman was stretchered off during yesterday evening’s 3-2 win over Palace. Post-match, Tony Pulis bemoaned a potential injury to yet another key first-team player:
“We’re concerned about him. Looks as though he’s done something to the knee joint. We won’t know until tomorrow we’re hoping it’s not serious because we need Brunty in the team. He gives us balance on that side. Without Brunty, James Morrison and Jonny Evans they’re three big players for us and make us play. They’re good footballers and we need those in the team. I don’t know whether it was a foul a free-kick or whatever, but I know he was in pain when he came off. Until you scan it I just don’t know.”
