Phil Jagielka and Ross Barkley are both forced off injured in the first of Everton’s double Gameweek 33 fixtures. David Silva is passed fit for City’s clash with PSG tomorrow, Vincent Kompany edges nearer a return, whilst Mauricio Pochettino plays down fears of an injury to Harry Kane.
Bournemouth
Callum Wilson made his first appearance since Gameweek 7 last weekend after emerging from the bench in the 2-1 win over Villa. Cherries boss Eddie Howe is keen to ease the frontman back into action over the run-in:
“It was precious for him and for us even though it was only a short period. He’s been the model professional and has worked really hard. It’s small steps for him and we’re not going to plant him in straight away. We need to build him up, but he’s looked good in training and has been a great goalscorer for us last season and the start of this.”
Everton
Roberto Martinez admitted that Phil Jagielka is unlikely to be passed fit for a trip to Crystal Palace in midweek after suffering a hamstring issue against Watford:
“It was a real negative when Phil felt his hamstring towards the end. He will be assessed over the next 24 hours but it doesn’t look good. Phil doesn’t get injured that often so when he asks to come off then that is a worry. He was holding his left hamstring and we will assess it overnight. It is too early to tell [whether he will miss the semi-final]. We have a period of five games in two weeks but he is a serious doubt for Wednesday and Crystal Palace.”
Ross Barkley is also a minor doubt for that match-up after he picked up a minor knee problem at Vicarage Road.
Considering the popularity of Barkley (190,000 new owners) and Jagielka (23,000 new owners) before the Toffees’ successive double Gameweeks, many Fantasy managers will be desperate for the duo to make a swift recovery. Although loading up on Everton coverage has so far proven to be an unprofitable tactic, they are next pitted against an Eagles outfit that conceded the joint-fourth-most goals (10) in their previous six outings. Moreover, only three teams have mustered fewer home goals (17) than Palace this season, which bodes well for Everton’s prospects at both ends of the pitch.
Man City
In his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League clash with PSG, Manuel Pellegrini conceded that, despite returning to training, Vincent Kompany will remain on the sidelines, whilst Nicolas Otamendi has shrugged off a knock picked up last weekend:
“Vincent Kompany is not 100 per cent, it will not be possible for him. Otamendi twisted his ankle in the last game (against West Brom), he will be okay to play”.
David Silva is available to face the Ligue 1 outfit after recovering from his ongoing ankle complaint, whilst Sergio Aguero is also fully fit. Pellegrini already clarified on Saturday night that the Argentine was merely removed as a precaution in the final moments of City’s win over West Brom:
“Kun had just a kick – it’s not a problem for Tuesday”
With Kompany back in training, then, those eyeing up Eliaquim Mangala for City’s double Gameweek 34 may need to reassess their options – should the Belgian prove his fitness in time for the weekend’s trip to Chelsea, it looks odds-on that he’ll make a return to the starting XI. Silva’s return to the fold merely adds to Pellegrini’s options in the final third. As we saw against the Baggies, though, for as long as City remain in Europe, Pellegrini’s team sheets look difficult to second-guess and it may well be that a Champions League exit will be advantageous to Fantasy managers and result in far less rest and rotation on a domestic level.
Man United
Louis van Gaal confirmed that Timothy Fosu-Mensah was subbed off at the 68-minute mark at White Hart Lane because of an injury:
“Yeah, he did his job very well but he is injured and he has to go out and that’s a pity for the team. But it was a very difficult selection for him because I could also have chosen Matteo Darmian and I cannot think that a consequence of Timothy’s injury is a 3-0 defeat, I don’t believe in that.”
If Fosu-Mensah is ruled out for the Red Devils’ double Gameweek (AVL & CRY), Matteo Darmian’s 17,000 new backers will feel more confident in the Italian full-back’s chances of reclaiming a starting berth. That being said, the abysmal nature of Darmian’s cameo against Spurs brings Antonio Valencia into the frame as a possible replacement.
Newcastle
Rafa Benitez said that Daryl Janmaat and Steven Taylor are set to be assessed after both men left the field at St Mary’s Stadium with knocks:
“I don’t know. We will see. We have had a lot of them (injuries). We have to see how they are, and after start counting players for the next one. He [Steven Taylor] was a little stiff. So I think it was a big risk to keep a player with problems on the pitch, especially with the problems we have in defence, so that is why we took Steven off.”
According to the local press, Janmaat is also nursing two broken fingers after he punched the dressing room wall at half-time at St Mary’s.
Norwich
Alex Neil explained that Timm Klose – who was stretchered off with a knee complaint against Palace – will undergo further tests to determine the length of his layoff:
“We need to analyse it over the next day or so and that should give us a good reflection, but it is a blow for us and it was a blow during the game.”
Southampton
Ronald Koeman shed light on Shane Long’s substitution against Newcastle, describing how the Irish marksman suffered from dizziness following a collision with Magpies shot-stopper Karl Darlow:
“He’s ok, he was a little bit dizzy after what happened in the first half and that was the reason that I changed Shane in the second half”
Meanwhile, Charlie Austin was an unused sub after he picked up a minor knee issue.
Stoke
After being named in the first XI in the previous two Gameweeks, Joselu dropped to the bench for Stoke’s trip to Anfield as Mark Hughes opted to hand Peter Crouch a rare start. Although the former was afforded 20 minute as a second-half sub, the Potters boss confirmed he was unable to start the match due to illness.
Tottenham Hotspur
Mauricio Pochettino played down any injury fears over Harry Kane after the forward was subbed off late on againt United yesterday. Speaking to the press after the 3-0 win, the Argentine revealed:
“He is okay. He just had a kick and maybe a dead leg but he is okay”
Watford
Etienne Capoue was withdrawn eight minutes from time against Everton due to a knock.
West Brom
Tony Pulis said that Salomon Rondon experienced a back injury in the first half against Man City and will be assessed today:
“I’m not sure which centre-half pulled him back, but he ripped his back. He couldn’t move in the end. He’s being manipulated now and we’ll see what he’s like on Monday.”
West Ham
Uncertainty surrounds the omission of Diafra Sakho from West Ham’s starting line-up against Arsenal on Saturday lunchtime. Hammers boss Slaven Bilic cited a “minor injury” as the reason behind the Senegal international’s absence, though according to reports elsewhere, the striker could face disciplinary action for a purported display of dissent. If true, this surely strengthens Andy Carroll’s chances of retaining the lone-striker berth in light of his quick-fire hat-trick on Saturday, making him an intriguing differential for the Hammers’ double Gameweek 34 (lei & WAT).
