Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta return to contention as City entertain Sunderland. Chelsea’s Eden Hazard is back in light training, Junior Stanislas and Josh King remain doubts for Bournemouth, whilst Big Sam has concerns in defence after Younes Kaboul is ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Injuries Ease for City
Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that Pablo Zabaleta and Vincent Kompany will return to the matchday squad for Sunderland’s visit on Saturday. The Chilean also cautioned that Sergio Aguero is not yet ready to complete a full match:
“The injury situation is better – we’ll have the complete squad recovered apart from Samir Nasri. Pablo Zabaleta, Fernando and Vincent Kompany have all worked with the squad normally. We’ll see the starting XI on Saturday – after that, especially with David, with Kun, with Vincent, with Pablo – we have to see how they recover between games. I have not decided my team yet. Sergio was ready to play – he needed minutes. Maybe for three or four games he won’t play 90 minutes as he’s coming back from injury but he needs to play.”
The Scout Says: News of Kompany’s imminent return will be music to the ears of managers who’ve recruited from Man City’s defence, given that Pellegrini’s troops have conceded in all eight of the fixtures their talismanic captain has missed. That being said, Bacary Sagna owners will fear rotation now that Zabaleta’s back in the fold and the Sky Blues play three matches in the space of seven days. Pellegrini’s reluctance to afford Aguero 90 minutes against the Wearside outfit should only act as a minor deterrent for prospective investors, considering the Argentina international scored five times in a 65-minute appearance against Newcastle in Gameweek 8. Pitted against the team that ranked top for big chances conceded (12) over the last four Gameweeks, there’s certainly scope for Aguero to make a statement in two days’ time.
King and Stanislas remain concerns
Eddie Howe revealed that the hamstring injuries Joshua King and Junior Stanislas picked up during the last couple of weeks are not serious. Nonetheless, the Bournemouth boss admitted that both are doubts for a home encounter against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day:
“We’ve got no long term injuries from West Brom. Josh just felt a slight niggle in his hamstring so we didn’t want to risk him. Junior was similar really, so we don’t think it’s anything that’s going to keep any player out for weeks. But whether Junior and Josh will make the next few games, we don’t know.”
The Scout Says: Both Cherries recruits have emerged as strong options in the fifth-midfielder bracket in recent matches – over 25,000 Fantasy managers snapped up Stanislas (three goals in four) over the past five Gameweeks, while King (two goals in five) welcomed over 5,000 new owners across the same stretch. Bournemouth’s attack as a whole has blossomed over the last five Gameweeks, placing top for attempts (77), fourth for shots inside the box (46), third for shots on target (29) and joint-second for key passes (58). If neither player makes it, though, it remains to be seen whether Howe’s troops can maintain the momentum that’s seen them win three straight league matches, with Marc Pugh and Glenn Murray likely to be called upon if they are ruled out.
Hazard still doubtful for Blues
Chelsea interim boss Guus Hiddink has confirmed that Eden Hazard returned to training on Wednesday as he steps up his recovery from a hip problem, though the Belgian didn’t complete the full session.
The Scout Says: Although Hazard is still uncertain to feature in Chelsea’s home clash against Watford, Hiddink will be buoyed by the displays of his new side’s attacking midfielders against Sunderland last weekend. Oscar and Pedro grabbed a goal apiece and led the way amongst midfielders for shots (five) and touches in the box (11) respectively last weekend, whilst Willian chipped in with a pair of assists. Indeed, in their first match-up following Jose Mourinho’s decampment, the Londoners played with renewed purpose – ranking joint-top for shots inside the box (11), top for big chances (four) and joint-top for shots on target (seven) among all teams – suggesting that Hiddink may choose to be cautious with Hazard’s fitness ahead of a busy upcoming run of fixtures.
Rose Back for Spurs
Mauricio Pochettino revealed that Danny Rose is fit again after missing Tottenham Hotspur’s win over Southampton due to illness. Ryan Mason also returned to training at the start of the week and will be in contention for Norwich’s visit on Boxing Day:
The Scout Says: With the Christmas period ripe for rotation, there’s certainly no guarantee that the fit-again Rose will start all three festive fixtures at the expense of Ben Davies. Regardless, Toby Alderweireld (two goals and assists) and Eric Dier (three goals and out-of-position potential) have established themselves as the prime routes into a Lilywhites defence that’s conceded the joint-fewest goals (14) throughout the season. Their stock on the Fantasy market only looks set to rise as Tottenham embark on an excellent schedule (NOR, wat, eve, LEI, SUN, cry, nor, WAT) all the way through to Gameweek 25.
Kaboul Sidelined for Sunderland
Sam Allardyce confirmed that Younes Kaboul suffered a hamstring injury during Sunderland’s trip to Chelsea last weekend and will be consigned to the treatment room for a number of weeks
The Scout Says: Kaboul’s injury should see the Black Cats revert to a four-man defence, having deployed five at the back for their last trio of road ties – incidentally, Sam Allardyce stated after last week’s loss at Chelsea that he was considering changes to his side’s set-up. Sunderland shipped 12 goals in their previous quartet of away fixtures and have conceded five more away goals (24) than any team in the league this season. Ally this with the fact that Manchester City rank top for goals (25), attempts (163) and shots on target (64) in home fixtures, and the Wearsiders are in danger of being put to the sword at the Etihad.
Pulis to make changes
Baggies boss Tony Pulis gave Fantasy managers a heads-up by confirming that squad rotation will be in effect as he attempts to navigate the tricky Christmas schedule. Claudio Yacob was in Argentina on the grounds of family bereavement but is back in the mix after returning to England:
“We have two games in three days so we’ll definitely rotate the squad. We will start with players at Swansea which we won’t start with against Newcastle (two days later). We will certainly rotate the side. It’s a chance to see one or two of them start.”
The Scout Says: Yacob’s return to the Baggies’ XI is set to spell the end of Jonny Evans’ brief stint in midfield – Jonas Olsson is the likeliest to drop out of central defence as a consequence, though the Swede could well be in the mix should his manager rotate at the back as he looks to improve a defence that’s been breached in each of the last seven now. Further up the field, suspensions to James McClean and Salomon Rondon afford the likes of Saido Berahino and/or Rickie Lambert the chance to stake a claim for pitch time after both dropped down the pecking order of late.
