Spurs have mounting defensive worries ahead of their Gameweek 23 trip to Sunderland. Meanwhile, the Black Cats have their own concerns as they suffer another major setback as Victor Anichebe is sidelined for several months. Elsewhere, Virgil van Dijk gives Southampton cause for concern after limping off with an ankle problem. Here’s our regular tour of the Premier League treatment tables, bringing you the latest updates on the most recent round of knocks and scrapes.
Toby Alderweireld
The Tottenham Hotspur defender was substituted just after the hour mark in last Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Man City, after appearing to be clutching to his right hamstring.
But speaking after the match, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino played down fears the Belgian could be set for a spell on the sidelines:
“I believe it’s not a big issue. We will know better in a few days, but it doesn’t look too bad.”
Alderweireld, whose ownership in FPL stands at 9%, has since spoken about the problem, though, and revealed how he feared his hamstring could snap if he was forced to make another sprint:
“It was more precautionary. I felt a little bit of a cramp. Some tightness in my hamstring. We have to see the coming days how the hamstring reacts, but usually, when you have a real injury if feels really tight. And I’m barely feeling anything at the moment. At the moment I went down, my hamstring was about to snap. If you then have to sprint in a one on one, you’re done. I could have been out for six or seven weeks. This was experience. I felt that something was coming, so I decided not to take any risk.”
Alderweireld will now undergo intensive treatment while on Spurs’ training camp in Barcelona this week and will be closely monitored ahead of the Gameweek 23 clash with Sunderland.
Pochettino is already without Jan Vertonghen for at least six weeks due to an ankle injury, so Kevin Wimmer may keep his starting place if Alderweireld isn’t risked at the Stadium of Light, while Ben Davies provides another option if Pochettino continues with a three-man backline.
Certainly, those holding Kyle Walker and/or Danny Rose will be hoping for Alderweireld’s availability, with Spurs’ prospects of clean sheets undoubtedly diminished should both their first-choice centre-halves be ruled out.
Andy Carroll, Angelo Ogbonna, Mark Noble
After netting twice in last weekend’s win over Middlesbrough, Andy Carroll was replaced after 67 minutes, seemingly as a precaution after feeling a tightness in his groin.
Speaking after the match, the West Ham striker moved to put minds at rest, stating that he was looking forward to the Hammers next match, at home to City on February 1:
“My groin was a little bit tight, so we didn’t want to risk anything. I didn’t train all week, and I was a little bit stiff, so maybe that’s one of the reasons why it’s a bit tight. But I’m all good and looking forward to the next game. I feel good.”
However, Sky Sports have since stated that Carroll is to undergo a scan, raising some concerns despite the player’s own reassurance. The reports still state that the striker is “expected” to be in contention to face Manchester City, however.
Meanwhile, Mark Noble was also forced off against ‘Boro and will undergo scans to assess the full extent of the problem.
The West Ham skipper has to be regarded as a doubt for Gameweek 23 then, although we’ll hopefully find out the result of the scan well before then.
Edimilson Fernandes looks the obvious replacement for Noble in central midfield for the Hammers until Cheikhou Kouyate returns from the AFCON.
Ogbonna has been ruled out for the rest of the season, after Hammers boss Slaven Bilic revealed the defender has been playing with a knee injury throughout this season:
“I have to praise Angelo Ogbonna, because he has played the whole season with an injury. He needs an operation on his knee to be fit long-term, and it was supposed to be a couple of weeks, but we asked him to play. Ogbonna will now have surgery after today’s game which will rule him out until the end of the season.”
New signing Jose Fonte looks set to replace the Italian alongside Winston Reid for the home fixture against Man City in Gameweek 23, then.
Virgil van Dijk
The Southampton defender was forced off during Sunday’s 3-0 win over Leicester City due to an ankle problem, with Saints manager Claude Puel uncertain over the Dutchman’s availability for tomorrow night’s EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool:
“He is having a scan, and I am waiting for the results at the moment. It was a good kick on his ankle, and he could not continue in the game yesterday. It’s not serious, but I don’t know if he can participate in this game. We will see in the next days before the game.”
Those quotes suggest he looks to have a good chance of being available for the next Premier League match, though, which comes against Swansea City next Tuesday.
That will come as welcome news to his 11.3% ownership in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), who missed out on clean sheet points last weekend after he was replaced in the 55th minute.
Jordan Henderson
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists midfielder Jordan Henderson can play through a heel problem he’s been carrying since the 1-0 win over Manchester City in Gameweek 19:
“It’s not the moment to feel nothing, he always feels a little bit, but he can cope with it… We don’t train a lot in this period between the games so instead of running one day when the players who have played 90 minutes are running for recovery, he’s on the bike – that’s maybe the only difference with what we do with him.”
Henderson had a problem with his other heel last season, but this issue is said to be slightly different, according to the Liverpool boss.
Klopp also revealed Henderson picked up a knock against Swansea City last weekend but is okay to line up against Southampton in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg tomorrow night.
Klopp may well be reconsidering his midfield options anyway, with the decision to utilise Adam Lallana in the front three failing to pay off against Swansea City. This could see Emre Can or Georginio Wijnaldum drop to the bench at home to Chelsea in Gameweek 23, with Daniel Sturridge or Divock Origi taking up the right flank berth until Sadio Mane returns from the AFCON.
Marcos Rojo
The Manchester United defender missed the 1-1 draw against Stoke City with flu, but he returned to training on Monday and could be in line for a return in Thursday night’s EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Hull City.
He should be in contention to face the Tigers in the Premier League in Gameweek 23, then, although he may not automatically come straight back into the side after Chris Smalling deputised effectively against the Potters.
Indeed, the competition for places in Jose Mourinho’s back four could be set to intensify should Ivory Coast be knocked out of the AFCON group stages tonight, as their exit would see Eric Bailly return home earlier than expected.
Islam Slimani
While it was great news for Leicester City that both Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani are on their way back to the club following Algeria’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations, there is some bad news regarding the Foxes striker.
Slimani was forced off with an injury during Monday’s 2-2 draw against Senegal, with one report saying he received strapping to his thigh, while another believes he suffered a groin strain.
The latter report suggests he could be ruled out for at least a week, so he looks a major doubt for the Gameweek 23 clash against Burnley, and perhaps also the home fixture against Manchester United, which comes five days later.
Ryan Mason, Curtis Davies
Mason was involved in a horrific clash of heads with Gary Cahill during Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea and suffered a fractured skull.
The midfielder will remain in hospital over the next few days, and while he’s now in a stable condition, he looks set to be unavailable for an extended period.
Davies was forced off with a hamstring problem in the same match, but given that he hasn’t yet been ruled out for Thursday night’s EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester United, he looks to have a decent chance of being fit to play when the two sides meet in the league in Gameweek 23 next week.
Dean Marney
The Burnley midfielder was stretchered off with a knee injury during Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal, but Clarets boss Sean Dyche was unsure over the severity of the problem post-match.
The early signs don’t look positive for Marney, then, with Dyche expected to provide an update on his fitness ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie against Bristol City.
A spell on the sidelines for Marney could allow Steven Defour shifted from his recent role on the left into the centre of the park, with the likes of Scott Arfield and Johan Berg Gudmundsson expected to be fit for selection soon.
Dyche may also consider drafting in Joey Barton, though, after the free signing recently emerged from the bench to bag the winner against Southampton.
Jeffrey Schlupp
Schlupp had to be substituted towards the end of last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Everton, but speaking after the match, he played down any fears over injury:
“It was just cramp. It’s been a while since I’ve played a full 90 minutes in the Premier League. My leg locked up and I couldn’t move.”
The Crystal Palace defender will be available for the Gameweek 23 trip to Bournemouth, then, and looks likely to retain a starting berth. Listed as a defender in FPL, Schlupp was utilised as a wing-back as a result of Sam Allardyce’s switch to 3-5-2 at the weekend.
Victor Anichebe, Jason Denayer
Anichebe returned from a hamstring injury to feature as a second-half substitute against West Bromwich Albion last weekend but has now suffered a fresh injury blow, having picked up a knee injury.
This evening’s reports stated that the striker has sustained a ruptured medial ligament which will keep him sidelined for around 12 weeks and the club have since moved to confirm this, stating a likely 10 week absence.
The Nigerian was a popular budget option a few months ago, and still sits in 2.1% of FPL squads.
The news is more positive for Jason Denayer, though, who had to be replaced against the Baggies after picking up a groin problem.
The same report suggests the Belgian will be fit to face Tottenham, and although the Black Cats have signed Joleon Lescott until the end of the season, he’ll still be needed in either defence or midfield by David Moyes given the lengthy list of absentees at the Stadium of Light.
Leon Britton, Leroy Fer, Ki Sung-yeung
Both Britton and Ki Sung-yeung missed Saturday’s 3-2 victory at Anfield due to calf injuries.
But with the Swans facing Southampton next Tuesday, it’s likely there’ll be enough recovery time for the pair to return to contention for Gameweek 23.
Fer limped off during the closing stages last weekend and appeared to have picked up a slight knock.
The Dutchman will need to be assessed, then, but it’s probable that he’ll be okay to face Saints.
Valon Behrami
The Swiss international missed the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth last weekend due to a back problem.
The full extent of the injury has yet to be disclosed, but the extra preparation time ahead of the Gameweek 23 clash against Arsenal should give Behrami every chance to prove his fitness.
