Man City’s progress to the last eight of the Champions League is blighted by injuries to both their first-choice centre-halves. Sadio Mane wins an appeal over his weekend dismissal, Laurent Koscielny is back for Arsenal, whilst Xherdan Shaqiri could be set to miss out for Stoke due to a thigh injury.
Injury Worries for Pellegrini
Manchester City played out a goalless draw at home to Dynamo Kiev to win 3-1 on aggregate and book a spot in the Champions League quarter-finals. Manuel Pellegrini named two changes for the Ukrainian giants’ visit, drafting in Pablo Zabaleta and Yaya Toure for Bacary Sagna and Wilfried Bony. The Sky Blues managed to keep a clean sheet without the support of starting centre-backs Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi, who were both replaced in the first period due to injury. Pellegrini expects Otamendi to recover before the Manchester derby after sustaining an impact knock, but Kompany suffered a recurrence of his ongoing calf problems and may well be poised for another spell on the sidelines:
“Vincent unfortunately again has a muscle injury in his calf, the same one he has had before. We will know tomorrow how important the injury is. Always with muscle injuries it means one month. He must be very strong mentally because he has to accept that there is nothing anybody can do immediately. Nicolas Otamendi received a kick and in just a couple days he could recover, we will see the way it develops.”
The Scout Says: Kompany’s fresh setback (his 14th calf injury since 2008) is a blow for the 100,000 managers that recruited him over the last two weeks ahead of City’s recently-announced double in Gameweek 34 (che, new). Pellegrini’s men have now managed three successive clean sheets in all competitions but bearing in mind two of those were against relegation candidates Villa and Norwich, who managed seven shots between them in those matches, many will be thinking twice over investing if the Belgian is indeed ruled out. With concerns over full-back rotation, Joe Hart – at 5.7 – could be the safest route into Pellegrini’s backline if Otamendi is also sidelined.
Mane appeal successful
Southampton lodged a successful appeal against the red card Sadio Mane received for a collision with Stoke City’s Erik Pieters, meaning the Senegalese winger no longer faces a four-match ban and will be in contention for Liverpool’s visit.
The Scout Says: Given that Mane last scored in Gameweek 10 and hasn’t enjoyed the security of starts since the turn of the year, it’s unlikely that the 7.3-priced midfielder will factor into our thinking during Saints’ relatively challenging run-in. Graziano Pelle returned to form with a brace on the weekend, but a tough pair of upcoming fixtures (LIV, lei) and the prospect of Charlie Austin returning after the international break diminishes his appeal. Ultimately, the south-coast club’s defence offers the most promise, with Virgil van Dijk presenting the strongest case by virtue of his attacking threat (three goals) and knack for accruing bonus points (16 – joint-fourth among defenders). Given that the Saints are without a double, though, many will likely overlook their chief protagonists once our wildcards are wielded ahead of Gameweek 34.
Koscielny back for Gunners
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League showdown against Barcelona at the Nou Camp, Arsene Wenger confirmed that Laurent Koscielny has replaced Calum Chambers in the matchday squad after recovering from injury.
The Scout Says: Koscielny’s return serves as a huge boost to a defence that conceded four goals and five big chances in his absence; incidentally, only Aston Villa surrendered more big chances (seven) in their last two match-ups. In terms of the prime route into the Gunners’ rearguard, there’s little to choose between Koscielny and Hector Bellerin: although the former has amassed more than twice as many shots (16 to seven) and three more goals (three to zero), the latter trumps his French team-mate in key passes (19 to eight) and assists (three to zero), engendering very similar points per game (ppg) averages (Koscielny: 4.3; Bellerin: 4.2). Analysing Arsenal’s clean-sheet prospects this weekend, they might struggle to contain an Everton side that ranks second for home goals (29). Looking beyond that tussle at Goodison Park, the North Londoners embark on a decent run (WAT, whu) through to an excellent double Gameweek (CRY, WBA), increasing the attraction of their rearguard assets.
Hughes Pessimistic on Shaqiri
Mark Hughes admitted that Xherdan Shaqiri could be set for a short stint on the sidelines after suffering a thigh injury in the first half of their home tie against Southampton:
“It’s disappointing that he looks likely to miss a couple of games, because prior to that it was arguably his best run of form in terms of end product and scoring goals himself. If he is to miss games, hopefully he will pick up quickly from where he left off.”
The Scout Says: Shaqiri hit a good run of form – producing one goal and two assists – during Stoke’s recent three-match winning streak, so his thigh complaint forces us to re-assess the Potters’ attacking potential. The Swiss midfielder could be in line to miss a trip to Watford this weekend but could conceivably recuperate during the two-week international break, rendering him available for Swansea City’s visit in Gameweek 32. Regardless, Marko Arnautovic – who’s recorded three goals in his previous four starts – remains the standout pick in the Staffordshire outfit’s camp. However, Shaqiri – despite clocking just 30 minutes against Saints – fashioned the joint-fourth-most key passes (11) among midfielders across the last four Gameweeks, so the creative void he leaves in his wake will be a concern for Arnautovic’s 17% ownership. Scanning the fixture list, those owners might already be engineering an exit route from the Austrian, considering that Stoke face an unforgiving trio of match-ups (liv, TOT, mci) beyond the Swans clash and midfielders with a double in Gameweek 34 will be in higher demand.
Howe hopeful on Arter
Eddie Howe believes that Harry Arter will recover in time for Bournemouth’s road clash against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend:
“Harry was close but just wasn’t close enough. He hasn’t trained since his injury and that was nearly two weeks ago. We are hopeful we can build him up this week.”
The Scout Says: The Cherries are in the midst of a four-match unbeaten streak that has yielded three successive victories and eight goals. As a consequence of their attacking exploits, the likes of Matt Ritchie (four assists in three), Joshua King (two goals and one assist in two, out-of-position potential) and Max Gradel (goal and assist against Swansea last week) have furnished managers with a number of midfield options below the 6.0 mark. That being said, prospective investors will likely be deterred by Bournemouth’s perilous string of fixtures (tot, MCI, avl, LIV, CHE, eve, WBA, mun) from how until the end of the season and those managers that are planning to adopt a pre-Gameweek 34 wildcard strategy will more than likely be happy to leave Cherries recruits alone.
Reid plays down injury fears
Winston Reid said that he was withdrawn in the second half of West Ham’s FA Cup tie against Manchester United because of cramp and looks in line to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this weekend:
“I had a conversation with the manager and we had to see how I felt. I felt alright and I tried to keep it simple. It is nice to be back out there and with a week’s training behind me, I look forward to facing Chelsea next weekend. I think when you get booked after a minute or so. You have to play carefully and that tempers how you can play. I felt a bit of cramp, I didn’t pull my hamstring though.”
The Scout Says: Despite contending with a plethora of injuries, West Ham posted clean sheets in their last three match-ups at the Boleyn Ground. Once the Hammers have negotiated the Blues head-to-head, they play at home three times (CRY, ARS, lei & WAT) within the space of as many Gameweeks (including their Gameweek 34 double), and also have a pair of home fixtures (SWA, MUN) in Gameweek 37 – their final two fixtures at Upton Park before moving ground in the summer. Although Aaron Cresswell (5.7) is the pick of the Irons’ back line, given that he’s a guaranteed starter, has missed just one league match all term and lays claim to a superior ppg average (3.9) than any defensive team-mate, the far more budget-friendly Reid, at 4.8, could also feature in our wildcard plans if he can steer clear of the treatment room from this point onwards.
