Cheik Tiote seems set to return from a knee problem as Newcastle travel to Man City. Arsene Wenger praises his summer signings for changing the Arsenal dressing room mentality, Luis Suarez recovers from minor back pain, while Ryan Shawcross is likely to return for Stoke at home to QPR:
Newcastle received a timely boost ahead of this weekend’s trip to Man City with the news that Cheik Tiote is in the frame for a recall. The Ivorian has missed the last three games due to a knee problem and was also withdrawn from international duty over the last week but according to reports, he is making steady progress and could be available on Saturday as Alan Pardew’s side look to extend their unbeaten start to twelve games at the Etihad.
Luis Suarez declared himself fit for Uruguay’s match with Italy this evening after minor back pain forced him off near the end of last Friday’s win over Chile. Suarez hinted that while it is ultimately his national coach’s decision as to whether he plays any part in the friendly, his thoughts have already turned to club duties:
I was a little scared by the pain I had in the game but treatment I had was just a precaution and it does not hurt. There will be no problem but the decision is going to be the coach (Oscar Tabarez). I risk a lot to Liverpool. I have a very important game next weekend against Chelsea. I love to play every game for the national team but now they are several tough matches in the club and you have to give a little priority.
Arsene Wenger reckons his new summer signings have played a significant part in changing his squad’s mentality this season. With five wins in six league games, the on-field effect of the new boys is clearly coming together but the Arsenal manager feels their arrival had an almost immediate effect on the mindset of his charges:
I am adamant that the players we brought in during the summer are top quality. They are also top quality men who have brought something to the dressing room – that is vital. They all have ambition and you could see that straight away after two or three days when the whole dynamic changed.
Craig Gordon is back in training for Sunderland and is expected to make a full recovery from his long term knee problem by the end of the year. Gordon was last in first-team action back in February and according to the Black Cats former coach Ricky Sbragia, the former Hearts keeper has never completely recovered from an arm injury picked up in 20009. With Simone Mignolet also out for a couple of months, it seems Kieren Westwood has no real competition for the number one jersey at the Stadium of Light right now.
Neil Taylor returned to training for Swansea today after recovering from a recent ankle problem. The left-back missed Wales’ win over Norway last weekend due to bruising but has confirmed he will be ready to go this weekend, as Brendan Rodgers’ side play host to Man United. It’s good news for his 7.8% Fantasy owners, as the Swans aim to make it five clean sheets out of six at the Liberty Stadium:
I will be fine for the weekend. I was really disappointed to miss out on playing against Norway — I hate missing games. But the decision was made that I should rest my ankle and allow it to recover further. The Wales game came a bit too early for me, which was a shame. I felt okay for a couple of days after the Liverpool game, but then the bruising came out and it was very sore. But I have recovered and I’ll be in training in preparation for the Manchester United game on Saturday.
Ryan Shawcross is expected to be fit for this weekend’s home clash with QPR. The Stoke centre-half lasted only eighteen minutes in the gameweek ten Britannia defeat to Newcastle and missed the following game at Bolton, as Tony Pulis’ side were hammered 5-0. The Potters have now lost three games in a row, conceding 11 goals, and are looking to get back to winning ways at the expense of Neil Warnock’s side this Saturday.
Michael Owen will be out for around six weeks with a thigh injury picked up in Man United’s Champions League win over Otelul Galati a fortnight ago. The problem was initially thought to be minor but the forward is now in line to miss nine games in all competitions for the club. Given he’s made just one league appearance this season, as a sub for Javier Hernandez at Stoke, and has just 0.2% of Fantasy owners, this is hardly the headline news it would once undoubtedly have been.
Norwich City’s Chris Martin has joined Crystal Palace on loan in a short-term deal. The Canaries forward started three of the first four league fixtures for Paul Lambert’s side has managed just six minutes since the end of gameweek four and will move to the Championship side until the 2nd January.
With Carlos Tevez failing to return from Argentina for Man City training on Monday, PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor admits a reconciliation between both parties is becoming “more impossible” by the day. Tevez’s trip back to his native country was believed to be unauthorised and reports suggest he has since obtained a medical certificate stating he is currently unable to leave his homeland. City have refused to comment as the saga shows no sign of letting up.
