Romelu Lukaku looks primed to return for Everton’s weekend tie against Burnley. Callum McManaman’s reserve outing provides a timely boost for West Brom, while there’s mixed news on the fitness of Newcastle United’s injured duo. Elsewhere, Palace hope to welcome back Jordon Mutch and Frazier Campbell, and Stoke are optimistic that Victor Moses will feature again this season.
Lukaku poised for weekend comeback
Romelu Lukaku trained with the Everton first team on Tuesday and is expected to recover from his hamstring injury in time for Saturday’s visit of Burnley. Toffees boss Roberto Martinez also revealed that Leon Osman – who’s suffering from a soft tissue problem in his groin – has a chance of being passed fit for the weekend:
“Rom is training today with the group and I would expect him to be fully fit for Saturday. Last Saturday he wanted to be involved but it was a real risk in terms of where the injury was. But he’s been working really well with the medical department and probably now we’ve got the green light to allow him to join the group. If he trains and doesn’t get any reaction over the next few days then clearly he will be fully fit and available for the next six games, which is exactly what we want. With Leon, we’re really pleased with the scans and it’s a soft tissue problem that, knowing Leon, maybe he’s got an opportunity to make it for Saturday.”
The Scout Says: Prior to being sidelined through injury, Lukaku had turned in some of his finest displays of the season. From mid-February onwards, the Belgian racked up eight goals and three assists in nine appearances across all competitions and started to finally look back in form after a barren first few months. The Toffees host Burnley on the back of three wins and a draw in their last four and with four home fixtures in the final six (BUR, MUN, avl, SUN, whm, TOT), Lukaku, at 8.7 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), may yet have a part to play in our run-ins.
McManaman impresses in warm-up ahead of Eagles tie
Callum McManaman clocked 62 minutes of pitch time during West Bromwich Albion’s defeat on penalties against Nuneaton Town in the Birmingham Senior Cup. The English winger was said to have been “lively throughout” by the club’s official site.
The Scout Says: Although the Baggies’ defence will be Tony Pulis’ primary concern in light of shipping 10 goals in the previous three encounters, five strikes in seven outings suggests their offense could also do with a boost. McManaman might not be famed for his goalscoring prowess (ten in 79 appearances for Wigan), but his propensity for beating a man would add an extra dimension to a side that deployed midfielders James Morrison and Craig Gardner on the flanks against Leicester City. Between them, they attempted three dribbles and completed just two against the Foxes, whereas McManaman’s 57-minute stint against Swansea City yielded eight attempted and four successful dribbles. A return to action at Selhurst Park on Saturday could see Pulis revert to the 4-2-3-1 he employed against the Swans, with Gardner dropping out and a three of McManaman, Saido Berahino and James Morrison playing behind central striker Brown Ideye.
Contrasting fortunes for Magpies duo
Reports indicate that Newcastle United starlet Rolando Aarons has suffered a fresh hamstring injury that rules him out of the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, head coach John Carver said that summer signing Siem de Jong – who’s been sidelined with a collapsed lung – is poised to feature in the Magpies’ Under 21s fixture against Derby County on Wednesday night but is unlikely to be available when Tottenham Hotspur visit on Sunday.
We’ve got a reserve game tomorrow night, and Siem de Jong will definitely play in that.
The Scout Says: Having slumped to their fifth successive defeat, the Toon are in dire need of any sort of catalyst to kickstart their floundering campaign. With two goals in five appearances in all competitions before succumbing to injury, Aarons – with his searing pace and capable finishing – could’ve been just that. De Jong, however, also possesses the potential to reignite Newcastle’s attack. The Tyneside outfit have recorded a solitary goal in their last five matches and are clearly suffering from the long-term ban Papiss Cisse picked up in Gameweek 28, so could profit from the inclusion of support forward De Jong – who netted an average of one goal in three matches for Ajax – for a home clash against Swansea in Gameweek 34.
Potters refuse to rule Moses out for season
Stoke City are hopeful that can Victor Moses can recover from the hamstring injury he sustained against West Ham United on Saturday before the season is out. The former Palace winger returned to parent club Chelsea to receive treatment.
The Scout Says: Moses recorded two goals in four starts from Gameweek 26 to 29 and looked to be rediscovering the kind off attacking flair that attracted numerous suitors during his spell at Palace. As transpired in the Hammers encounter last weekend, Moses’ absence could pave the way for Mame Biram Diouf to slot back into the starting line-up for Southampton’s visit next Gameweek as the lone striker, with Jonathan Walters – who was fielded up front last week – dropping back to the right flank in a 4-2-3-1 set-up. Mark Hughes will be tempted to keep faith in Mark Arnautovic, though; handed a second start in seven, the Austrian’s late leveller at West Ham served up a ten-point return, his highest of the season.
Palace hopeful on Souare as duo plot return
Crystal Palace are optimistic that left-back Pape Souare can shake off a dead leg in time to feature against West Brom on Saturday. Elsewhere in the Eagles camp, Fraizer Campbell and Jordon Mutch could also be back in contention for the Baggies clash after recuperating from hamstring complaints.
The Scout Says: Considering Souare has logged just three starts since a January move to Selhurst Park and the competent Martin Kelly waits in the wings to reclaim the berth, the Senegalese defender’s absence seems of little consequence. Certainly, with a single clean sheets in 12 under Alan Pardew, few, if any, will be considering the Palace backline. Further up the field, given that the Eagles are experiencing a rich vein of form – winning four matches on the bounce – Campbell and Mutch will struggle to forge a way back into the starting XI, with weekend bench roles looking the obvious outcome.
