The Treatment Table – Gameweek 12

Jurgen Klopp admits that Adam Lallana could be sidelined another couple of league matches. Arsene Wenger concedes that Santi Cazorla is still unavailable for Arsenal, while Vincent Kompany’s catalogue of injuries is extended, after mysteriously suffering a knee problem that will see him seek specialist treatment. Here’s our review of the newcomers to the Premier League treatment tables.

Santi Cazorla

Speaking to the press earlier today, Arsene Wenger believes Cazorla – who has missed Arsenal’s last four league matches with an Achilles injury – could be sidelined for a further two to four weeks. When quizzed on the Spaniard’s likely return date, Wenger offered this uncharacteriscally pessimistic response…

“At the moment I’ve given a little bit up on that [predicting a return date for Cazorla], I don’t know how far he is. It looks to me that he’s making progress but as long as a player is not in full-time training with the squad, it’s very difficult to set targets. It’s not a big injury that will harm his future but it’s an inflammation at the back of his Achilles and it’s always very difficult on inflammations to give a set time. My gut feeling is it will be short, two weeks. But when a player comes back to full training it still takes two weeks for a player to be ready to play again.”

Given Wenger’s prognosis, it would appear that Cazorla could now miss another three Gameweeks and fixtures with West Ham, Everton and Manchester City. That will come as a major blow given that the Gunners have drawn three of their last four in the league, with Cazorla’s creativity from central midfield sorely missed.

Elsewhere, Wenger confirmed that his squad had all “recovered” from the weekend clash with United, although both Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey, who missed training today, were left on on “recovery” but were expected to be in contention for tomorrow night’s tie.

He also provided a short-sharp update on the progress of striker Lucas Perez who is currently sidelined with a knee injury…

“He’s back in training already, but not with the squad. He’s ahead of schedule.”

Artur Boruc, Jordon Ibe

Boruc missed Saturday’s 1-0 win against Stoke City due to a back injury, while Ibe was ruled out due to illness, although the winger was also involved in an off-the-field incident during the international break.

Boruc only just failed a late fitness test, though, and looks to have a good chance of being fit to return at the expense of Adam Federici against Arsenal on Sunday.

Even if Ibe is available for the trip to the Emirates, he may face a tougher time reclaiming his starting berth given the form of both Junior Stanislas and Josh King in the wide positions for the Cherries in recent matches.

Islam Slimani

The Leicester City forward remains a doubt for Saturday’s home encounter against Middlesbrough after being ruled out of tonight’s Champions League clash against Club Brugge due to an ongoing groin injury that saw him miss the weekend loss at Watford.

Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri said the Algerian was “not ready yet,” placing doubt as to whether he’ll be fit to face ‘Boro.

Ranieri’s side have only won one of their last seven in the Premier League, seeing them slide down to 14th in the table, so the Italian will be desperate to have the club-record signing available for the weekend, bearing in mind that he has produced three goals and an assist in four home outings.

Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki look likely to lead the line should Slimani miss out.

Adam Lallana

Speaking after Saturday’s goalless draw against Southampton, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp revealed that Adam Lallana could be ruled out for another week or two with the groin injury he picked up during England’s 2-2 draw against Spain:

“It was serious enough to be not involved today and possibly the next two or three games. We don’t know exactly in the moment but that was the only problem we had.”

The Reds midfielder looks very unlikely to feature against Sunderland on Saturday, then, while he may face a race against time to be fit for the Gameweek 14 trip to Bournemouth if the injury is worse than first feared.

Lallana has already been transferred out by over 25,000 FPL bosses this week, with that number set to increase significantly as we head towards the Gameweek 13 deadline should he be confirmed as being out by Klopp in his pre-match press conference.

Georginio Wijnaldum is likely to retain his place against the Black Cats, allowing Klopp to field Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane as his front three at Anfield.

George Friend

Following Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka revealed George Friend’s knee injury is worse than initially feared:

“I thought it was nothing serious but I think it is going to be two or three weeks.”

The ‘Boro left-back suffered the injury during training, with the problem thought to be nothing more than a minor niggle.

But the defender now looks likely to miss Saturday’s trip to Leicester City, and most likely the Gameweek 14 home clash against Hull City, too.

Fabio deputised at left-back against Chelsea, and looks set to retain his starting role at the King Power Stadium. Karanka also utilised Stewart Downing in defence late on in Sunday’s loss and could opt for the former West Ham man if he chooses to go on the offensive.

Vincent Kompany

The Manchester City defender was forced off during the first-half of Saturday’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace with a head injury after being involved in a collision with Claudio Bravo. However, it has since transpired that the Belgian has suffered a knee problem which, according to Pep Guardiola, will mean that he will be sidelined for a number of weeks.

It’s unknown how Kompany suffered this latest setback, with no apparent signs of such an injury in Saturday’s contest. However, Guardiola has confirmed that there is ligament damage and that he will be treated in Barcelona at Dr Ramon Cugat’s clinic – a renowned expert on sports knee injuries.

“He could be out for weeks. He’s sad and I’m sad. It’s a long time he doesn’t play. He is in the best hands so he can recover as soon as possible. He [Cugat] will make the best treatment possible. The doctor told me a few weeks [that Kompany will be out]. We’ll see. It is ligaments.”

Guardiola also went on to indicate that he remained concerned about Kompany’s ongoing injuries…

“We have to try to help him week after week to see if he can play more often. Deciding now is not the right thing.”

Owners of John Stones will be hoping that he now makes a return to the XI after Guardiola opted to bench him in Gameweek 12 with one eye on the midweek Champions League encounter with Monchengladbach. Over 16,000 FPL managers have already sold the summer signing this week, with Stones mustering just a single clean sheet in 11 appearances.

Phil Bardsley

The Stoke City defender was forced off with a knock during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth following a collision with Jack Wilshere, and was reportedly seen leaving the bet365 Stadium on crutches.

Bardsley was replaced by the returning Glen Johnson at right-back, and the latter could now be set to start for Saturday’s trip to Vicarage Road should Bardsley be ruled out.

Johnson has dropped to 4.7 in FPL ahead of clashes with Watford and Burnley but with the fixtures turning against Mark Hughes’ side from Gameweek 15, few will be willing to punt on the Potters’ defence.

Paddy McNair, Jan Kirchhoff, Jason Denayer

McNair played on after picking up a knock during the first-half of Saturday’s 3-0 win over Hull City, before eventually being replaced in the 87th minute.

The extent of the problem has yet to be confirmed, but while the injury may not be anything serious given he played on, he is an early doubt for Saturday’s trip to Anfield.

Sunderland boss David Moyes also revealed that he is currently concerned about the availability of Jason Denayer ahead of Saturday’s encounter, with the Belgian suffering a tight hamstring late on in the victory over Hull.

“He just felt his hamstring at the end so I’ve just got to hope he’s OK.”

Meanwhile, German midfielder Jan Kirchhoff stepped up his recovery from a hamstring injury with a run-out for the club’s U23 side last night.

Kirchhoff got 90 minutes under his belt in the 2-0 win over Manchester United U23s, and also got on the scoresheet: he may now be in line to play some part in Saturday’s match against Liverpool.

Moyes also has an injury concern over Jack Rodwell (hamstring), while Sebastian Larsson, who also played 90 minutes for the reserves, is only just returning from injury himself.

Steven Pienaar will return at Anfield after serving a one-match ban, but Kirchhoff’s defensive qualities may be needed in the Black Cats’ midfield up against the most potent attack in the Premier League.

Saido Berahino

The West Bromwich Albion forward has been sent back to the conditioning camp that he’s recently attended in the south of France to continue to work on his fitness.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Berahino said:

“I have had a good, constructive talk with Tony Pulis and the Club’s senior management and we all agree this is the best way forward for me.”

Berahino remains out of the first-team picture for the foreseeable future, then, with Salomon Rondon underlining just why he’s Pulis’ preferred pick to lead the line by bagging a goal and assist at home to Burnley last night.