Mikel Arteta strikes at the death for Everton, his first Fantasy haul in five games, to claim a point for the visitors after loan star Danny Welbeck notched a brace for Steve Bruce’s Sunderland. Elsewhere in our collection of Tuesday morning scribbles, there’s news of a potential Christmas absence for Tim Cahill and updates on injuries to Joe Cole, Karl Henry and Chris Brunt…
Danny Welbeck continued his outstanding spell of form with a brace of goals in last night’s 2-2 draw with Everton. The United loanee took his tally to 3 in his last 2 matches then and earned his second consecutive 3 point Bonus haul in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game. Available for just 5.0 as a Forward option, he will be beginning to tempt investment, although it must be said that he will be under considerable threat for a role up front once Asamoah Gyan recovers from a thigh injury that kept him out of last night’s game. That injury cured Steve Bruce’s selection headache and allowed him to recall fit-again Darren Bent to the forward line. Welback could find himself out on the right-flank or even benched in away games, once Gyan is available for selection.
Before last night’s kick-off, Steve Bruce revealed the reason for Gyan’s absence on the night, but the most worrying injury setback concerned defensive stalwart Titus Bramble. News is thin on the ground right now but his own club’s website were wiling enough to go to print on initial fears that he has picked up a knee problem which may require surgery to fix. That will come as a major blow to the Black Cats’ back four and investors in their remaining defensive assets will now have to be wary of the impact that Bramble’s absence could cause over the coming weeks.
Elmohamady was once again on the bench for Sunderland. His prospects of a recall to starting XI look bleak given that Sunderland’s results have improved markedly since Bruce took the step to drop him to the bench. The likes of Boudewijn Zenden and Kieran Richardson (who both claimed assists last night) have now gone above him in the midfield pecking order. Over 20,000 FPL Managers have got rid of the Egyptian in the last Gameweek – more sales are to be expected in the weeks to come.
Tim Cahill’s opener for visitors Everton again demonstrated his value to them. He has now chipped in with seven goals in 13 appearances, putting all of his team-mates, and particularly the actual strikers, to shame. David Moyes however will now need to find a plan B in the not too distant future – Tim Cahill is set to head out with his Australian cohorts for a while…
“They are due to take Tim in mid to late December and depending how far they go in the tournament will determine how long he is away, I’m trying to delay him going until January and will do the best I can”
This is all in name of The Asian Cup, of which now Australia are a part of after switching allegiances a few years back. If Moyes isn’t dealt any favours and The Socceroos make good progress, then Cahill could be absent from Premier League actions for as long as six weeks. Fellow internationals Mark Schwarzer, Vince Grella, Brett Emerton and David Carney could also be called up for duty in this time – as well as Korean Republic internationals Park Ji-Sung and Chung-Yong Lee. It’s not quite as crippling as last season’s African Cup Of Nations, but something to beware of all the same.
Cahill’s goal last night was yet again assisted by Leighton Baines who then went on to set up Arteta’s equaliser – his fifth assist of the season and third in three matches. Incredibly, 8 of Cahill’s last 12 headed goals have arrived via the service of Baines from the left and he remains the most productive attacking full-back in the league.
The award of 2 Bonus Points to Mikel Arteta last night is made even more mysterious by some quick analysis of the performance stats. Steven Pienaar actually had more touches and completed more passes in Sunderland’s half than Arteta. While Arteta can boast 2 efforts on goal, Tim Cahill registered 3 goal attempts, all of which were on target. Leighton Baines meanwhile, aside from his 2 assists, put in more crosses last night than any other full-back over the Gameweek, and only Florent Malouda provided more successful crossed balls. Arteta it seems, is well and truly favoured by the Press Association representatives that award the FPL Bonus, and the Spaniad’s team-mates continue to get overlooked as a result.
Liverpool fans will be left wondering whether the following news is a blessing or a curse as Roy Hodgson revealed that Joe Cole had made progress in his recovery from injury…
”Joe is not that far away really, so hopefully he will have recovered in time for Tottenham.”
By all accounts this should be a bonus for Liverpool as one of their “star” players returns to the fray, but the £8.3m has had a fairly torrid start to his time at Anfield by all accounts. Investors in his team-mates will certainly have raised eyebrows, as whether by coincidence or not, Liverpool’s performances and results have been on an upward trend in his absence.
Newcastle may have a mini defensive crisis on their hands for the next few weeks as Fabricio Coloccini is already set to serve a guaranteed three game suspension for his elbow on Johan Elmander while partner in crime Mike Williamson will join him for that duration if he accepts a charge he received from the FA for a challenge on the same player. This move would likely see Sol Campbell and perhaps even Steven Taylor thrown back into the deep end this weekend, in front of the Sky cameras, as Chelsea come to visit. Drogba doubters may indeed want one last roll of the dice.
Remaining on the suspension front we move over to the Latics of Wigan who will now be down to their vice-vice-vice-vice-captain this week, with Gary Caldwell injured, Antolin Alcaraz suspended for one week having picked up two yellows and Hugo Rodallega out for three thanks to his two-footed effort at Old Trafford. Franco Di Santo will most likely look to step into the Colombian’s boots – we’re not even going to dare wonder what Mauro Boselli is up to these days – and offers a cheap lifeline at only £4.5m in the FPL.
It would also seem likely that Charles N’Zogbia and Jordi Gomez will be left to tussle over the matter of who takes the penalties for the next three games also, a handy bonus for whoever gets it. The fact that N’Zogbia has been speaking out again and calling Wigan ”a stepping stone” might not shine in his favour so much.
Wolves have been rocked by the news that their captain and chief enforcer Karl Henry is likely facing two months on the sidelines having picked up a medial ligament injury to his knee. One man’s loss is another man’s game and the likes of David Jones, Nenad Milijaš and Michael Mancienne (an FPL defender) will all have slightly more room to claim regular starts with Henry sidelined. [Andy]
The Baggies are in a right old slump right now so need every man they can get to turn it around, one of the key man who can help aid such things is previously scribbled “eight out of ten” performer Chris Brunt…
”We’re hopeful he might recover for the next game, But he’s still a doubt and we’ll have to see how this week goes. He’s an important player for us.”
The words of Di Matteo are nothing near definitive at this early stage, especially considering he was equally hopeful on striker Peter Odemwingie for a good two weeks before he was able to actually return, but it certainly can’t be bad news for West Brom or those still clinging to Chris Brunt in their squads.
