West Ham pair Victor Moses and Manuel Lanzini are early concerns for Saturday’s home encounter with Stoke. Man City’s worries in midfield are heightened by Fernando’s weekend withdrawal, whilst Norwich are sweating on the fitness of playmaker Wes Hoolahan.
Aston Villa
In the wake of Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw at the St Mary’s Stadium, Remy Garde offered an update on the fitness of three players, Leandro Bacuna, Rudy Gestede and Carlos Sanchez, who were substituted late in the second-half:
“I don’t know yet with Leo Bacuna. Hopefully it won’t be too bad. We have to wait until Monday to find out. I don’t think it’s too bad with Rudy Gestede – he got a kick on his knee. He didn’t play too much in the previous weeks. In his first game he had a good attitude and fought very well. He was more tired than injured probably. Carlos Sanchez got a kick in the eyes. It’s not too bad but he had to come off. Hopefully it won’t be too bad for the players who came off today.”
Bournemouth
Sylvain Distin sat out Bournemouth’s trip to Chelsea due to illness, with Simon Francis fielded at centre-half in the Frenchman’s absence.
Manchester City
Fernando left the field of play in the second half at the Britannia Stadium (after they’d used all three subs) because of a hamstring complaint.
Yaya Toure has made a quick recovery from the knock that forced him to miss the weekend trip to Stoke and, having returned to training earlier this morning, has been included in the midweek Champions League squad against Borussia M’Gladbach as City look for a win that would see them finish top of their qualifying group. Martin Demichelis is ruled out with a minor problem as City’s concerns in defence continue.
Pellegrini confirmed, however, that Sergio Aguero won’t be available to face the German outfit:
Aguero has an injury which means he can’t work. He needs time to recover – it’s not serious, it’s a pain injury.”
Manchester United
Paddy McNair and Morgan Schneiderlin both picked up niggling injuries against West Ham United. The former has travelled with the squad ahead of their match-up against Wolfsburg on Tuesday, while the latter couldn’t recover in time.
“Paddy McNair has an ankle problem and Schneiderlin is a little bit stiff in the hip, so we have to wait and see as always on that.”
Norwich City
Wes Hoolahan sustained a knee problem during Norwich’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal in Gameweek 14 so was sidelined for their trip to Vicarage Road. Although the initial scans were ominous, Alex Neil said further assessments have been more promising:
“We hope so. I didn’t want to say anything too much pre-match to give the opposition an advantage. Hopefully he should be okay. It’s a problem just behind the back of his knee, he did it in the last game. We got it scanned and it didn’t show up too well but we have had it assessed and it is looking more promising.”
Southampton
Fraser Forster is stepping up his rehabilitation program in an attempt to return to action early next year. Ronald Koeman said that the next step for the English shot-stopper – who’s now training with the other keepers – is a run-out for Southampton’s U21 outfit:
“Fraser Forster is doing well. Thursday morning he was with the rest of the goalkeepers doing the session and I think already it is ten days that he had four or five good goalkeeper sessions with Dave Watson. The planning is that he will be part of the sessions in the next two weeks. The first game will be in the under-21s or we have to organise a friendly but it’s difficult because we need to play a lot in the next couple of weeks. He’s doing well, he’s really confident and everybody is happy how Fraser did his time and his mentality to come back as soon as possible.”
Elsewhere in the Saints’ camp, Koeman said that Victor Wanyama was replaced because of an ankle problem:
“I didn’t speak to Victor. He was a little bit with his ankle and we have to wait.”
Sunderland
Lee Cattermole was absent for Sunderland’s road encounter against Arsenal by virtue of his ongoing back issue flaring up.
Swansea City
Eder was a no-show for Swansea City’s defeat to Leicester City, with reports suggesting that he’s suffered ankle ligament damage.
West Brom
Stephane Sessegnon bowed out at the 44-minute mark of West Bromwich Albion’s home tie against Tottenham Hotspur after pulling up with a hamstring injury.
West Ham United
Victor Moses lasted just 37 minutes at Old Trafford before succumbing to a hamstring injury. Slaven Bilic said that – despite it being too early to present a prognosis – the early signs are worrying:
“It’s still too early, but it doesn’t look good again. It’s a hamstring – he felt it and we had to take him off. It’s a big blow for us, but we have to stay positive as some of the players maybe have a chance of being back for the Stoke game. If not Stoke, then Swansea.”
Manuel Lanzini didn’t feature against the Red Devils following a knock in training, but Hammers’ co-chairman David Gold reckons he could return to face Stoke City this weekend:
“I’m optimistic that Lanzini will be available for Stoke but we must wait till Tuesday for the scan on Victor.”
