Yaya Toure recovers from a heel injury in time for City’s Champions League clash with Kiev. Eden Hazard misses Chelsea’s cup loss at Everton with an ongoing hip complaint, whilst Diego Costa is set to serve a two-match ban. Here’s the latest on the injuries and suspensions incurred over the weekend’s matches.
Aston Villa
Following the Villains’ 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, Remi Garde spoke on Gabriel Agbonlahor’s omission from the matchday squad:
“Gabby trained on Thursday. He came on Friday morning with an injury – a thigh problem. He was not fit for selection.”
Elsewhere in the West Midlanders’ camp, Jack Grealish is still suffering with an ankle problem and could be sidelined for a further fortnight:
“Unfortunately for the team and for me, there is no more news on Jack. The doctor told me he had a problem with his ankle and he needed to treat that. I am waiting for his return. It could be another ten days or two weeks maximum hopefully.”
Chelsea
Responding to claims made by Eden Hazard’s father that his son has been forced to play through the pain barrier, Guus Hiddink admitted that the Belgium international is contending with a persistent knock:
“His father makes a fair judgement. He is not absent of injury. That has an influence on the freshness and the worries are there.”
The weekend loss at Everton gives the Blues little more than pride to play for over the remaining nine league fixtures. Bearing in mind that Hazard – unlike Willian and Diego Costa – has failed to benefit from a change of managers, with just a single league assist under Hiddink, it remains to be seen whether the Dutchman will be in any real hurry to rush him back now. With clashes against Villa and Bournemouth in the next three – and with a double Gameweek still to be factored in – Willian, at 7.2, is shaping up to be the midfielder of choice for those backing the champions to bounce back and finish strongly in the final few matches of Hiddink’s temporary tenure.
Manchester City
Yaya Toure came through Manchester City’s Monday training session unscathed and has been passed fit for the midweek clash against Dynamo Kiev.
Manuel Pellegrini also went on to reveal that Kevin de Bruyne, Samir Nasri and Fabian Delph could be set to play in a specially-arranged friendly over the upcoming international break as the trio step up their fitness drives following stints in the sidelines.
Toure’s absence in the centre of the park was markedly missed on Saturday as City stumbled to a goalless draw against a Norwich side that had conceded 12 times in their previous four at Carrow Road. After bagging his seventh goal of the season at home to Villa in Gameweek 29, the Ivorian’s return looks vital in time for the weekend home derby against United as Pellegrini’s troops attempt to bounce back from their weekend stalemate.
Elsewhere, the De Bruyne news, in particular, looks very handy as we restructure our squads in time for the upcoming double Gameweeks. The Belgian’s average of 5.5 points per appearance – fourth amongst midfielders and far superior to Toure (4.6) and David Silva (4.1) – makes him ripe for investment if he can prove his fitness in time for the Gameweek 32 trip to Bournemouth.
Manchester United
Presenting an update on Wayne Rooney’s stage of recovery from a knee injury, Louis van Gaal revealed that the talismanic striker still faces a long spell on the sidelines:
“Wayne still has weeks to go. He is not even close. I cannot say how many weeks, as you never know. It is a conservative healing what we are doing with the brace, not an operation or something like that.”
With Rooney out of the picture for the time being, Marcus Rashford’s security of starts is strengthened somewhat. Priced at 4.6, the youngster has been named in the first XI in six successive matches across all competitions, though he’s occasionaly been utilised on the flank as well as up top due to the versatility of Anthony Martial. Arguably, the latter – who notched the cup equaliser at home to West Ham – remains the more secure pick for anyone looking to invest in the Red Devils’ attack, by virtue of two goals and as many assists in five league starts. Regardless, United’s next trio of fixtures (mci, EVE, tot) render him a less attractive differential pick.
Norwich City
Nathan Redmond was withdrawn just before the break against Manchester City due to an ankle injury. Although Alex Neil has been assured that it’s not as serious as Alexander Tettey’s complaint – which ruled him out for the season – the Canaries boss expressed his concern. As for Robbie Brady and Steven Naismith – who both missed out on Saturday – they’re scheduled to return to training this week:
“Nathan just went over on his ankle. He has rolled it, which is a concern for us because he is a key player. It’s not to the extent of Alex’s (Tettey). I might have spun a line on Robbie and Steven. I wouldn’t say they had fitness tests. They weren’t going to be ready for this game but I hope they can train this week.”
With upcoming Carrow Road encounters against relegation rivals Sunderland and Newcastle, Neil will be desperate to have Redmond and Naismith available, in particular. The former has fired seven attempts inside the box in his last four matches – only three midfielders have managed more – whilst Naismith has served up 17 points in three home appearances against Liverpool, Spurs and West Ham since arriving in the winter transfer window.
Stoke City
In the aftermath of Stoke City’s 2-1 defeat to Southampton, Mark Hughes said that Xherdan Shaqiri left the field at the 31-minute mark with a pulled thigh muscle.
The Potters boss went on to confirm he is optimistic over the fitness of Ryan Shawcross, after the centre-half suffered a minor back problem in his first appearance since Gameweek 23:
“Unfortunately, he just had a moment right at the end where he went up for a header and as he was in the air he had a little nudge, got knocked off balance and jarred his back on the other side. We hope it will settle down, but it was one of those freak things that when he was in the air the little nudge put him off balance and all the force on landing went through the right-hand side of his back. He just got unlucky right at the end there and was one of those things that could have happened in training. It was the last challenge he made in the game. Prior to that he had 95 minutes or so without any problems whatsoever. We will check him out and are hopeful there’s no damage, that it’s just jarring and he will continue at the weekend.”
The fitness of Stoke’s premier centre-back and captain will be monitored closely by Jack Butland’s 26% ownership ahead of a pair of fixtures (wat, SWA) that harbour decent clean-sheet potential. Although Watford overturned Arsenal in the FA Cup, they failed to score in five of their previous six league outings, illustrating their current impotency in the final third.
Swansea City
Assistant manager Alan Curtis said that Andre Ayew’s ankle injury will likely sideline him for Swansea City’s home tie against Aston Villa this weekend, but the Ghanaian winger should be fit after the imminent international break.
“Andre turned his ankle against Norwich. He’s in France having it assessed. I don’t think it’s bad. He’s doubtful for next week but after that it’s the international break so hopefully by the time we play Stoke it should be all right.”
Capping off the Swans’ fitness news, Jefferson Montero should be in contention against Villa following a bout of flu, while Modou Barrow is expected to shrug off the minor hamstring problem that forced him off at the weekend.
Watford
Odion Ighalo has played down injury fears following his substitution in the 82nd minute against Arsenal, insisting that he’ll be ready for Watford’s home clash against Stoke City:
“I just need two days to rest and some massage and I will be ready for the weekend’s game.”
Ighalo enjoyed a breathless start to life in England’s top tier – netting 13 goals through the opening 19 Gameweeks – but has bagged just one goal since the turn of the year, prompting an exodus of owners. In light of the Nigerian frontman returning to the scoresheet at the Emirates, Ighalo could be set to re-establish himself as a viable pick-up on the Fantasy market ahead of a period in which the Hornets will embark on two double Gameweeks.
West Ham United
Having only just made his comeback from a hamstring injury, Winston Reid was subbed off at the 62-minute mark against Manchester United.
With James Tomkins and James Collins still sidelined, Reid’s possible absence could see Reece Oxford or Cheick Kouyate partner Angelo Ogbonna for the weekend trip to Chelsea. Given that the Hammers have conceded in each of their last six road trips, their hosts will fancy their chances of finding the net, despite being devoid of Diego Costa’s services due to suspension.
SUSPENSIONS
Chelsea
Following a heated clash with Gareth Barry during Chelsea’s FA Cup tie against Everton, Diego Costa was sent off for a second bookable offence. That one-match ban has been extended by the FA due to Costa’s charge of violent conduct earlier in the campaign, ruling him out of the Blues’ favourable pair of upcoming fixtures (WHU, avl).
Earlier this evening, the FA charged him with improper conduct following the dismissal, whilst Costa has also been asked to explain an alleged gesture towards the Toffees fans.
As a result, the 5.4-priced Bertrand Traore – who’s classified as a midfielder by the Fantasy Premier League – may be poised to front the Blues’ attack in Costa’s absence, alerting us to his out-of-position differential prospects. Traore got the nod ahead of Alexandre Pato and Loic Remy against Stoke recently and vindicated his manager’s decision by bagging the opener in a 1-1 stalemate.
Everton
The Toffees’ Gareth Barry is also banned for a couple of matches after earning his second red card of the season on Saturday. The central midfielder will now skip upcoming league clashes with Arsenal and United and return in time for Gameweek 33.
Southampton
Sadio Mane received a red card for a perceived elbow on Stoke defender Erik Pieters, which – owing to the fact that it’s his second red of the campaign – rules him out for four matches. Given the contentious nature of the decision, Southampton have today launched an appeal against the Senegal international’s sending off.
Sticking with Saints’ disciplinary matters, Jose Fonte and Victor Wanyama are back in the squad for Liverpool’s visit after serving out their suspensions.
