Emmanuel Adebayor steps up his fitness for Spurs. Bacary Sagna expects to return before the end of September, Danny Simpson is ruled out for Newcastle while Fabricio Coloccini is a hamstring worry, and Brendan Rodgers is determined to be cautious over Raheem Sterling…
Emmanuel Adebayor could be set to make his first start of the season at Reading next weekend. The Togo international has been handed an intensive fitness program over the international break as Andre Villas-Boas looks to the summer signing to end Spurs’ winless start to the season. Adebayor joined up at the Lane without any pre-season game time under his belt and, as a result, has featured as a second-half sub in his first two matches. Jermaine Defoe’s stint in the first XI could soon be coming to an end, then, with a fully-fit Adebayor primed for a start at the Madejski match as the lone striker – with a mere 4% ownership, he could be a real differential ahead of home clashes with QPR and Villa in the next four.
Brendan Rodgers has reiterated his desire to protect Raheem Sterling after the youngster shot to prominence with a couple of solid displays against City and Arsenal. The Liverpool boss revealed…
“I think with young players you have to be careful. They can be elevated above their station too quickly. That is a part of it in this country. They have one good game and they get elevated into superstar status. He was absolutely fantastic through pre-season. You have seen his quality, courage and attitude in the recent games – it has been fantastic. But for the moment let’s just stay calm.”
Sterling was lined up to feature for the England U21 side this week but Rodgers – wary of the hype surrounding the youngster – convinced FA director of football, Trevor Brooking, to continue with the winger at U19 level. With Joe Cole and Oussama Assaidi edging their way back to first-team contention after injury, Sterling looks likely to be nurtured by Rodgers – an indication that his appeal as a cut-price Fantasy option may be a little too risky right now, despite his strong showings.
Arsene Wenger looks set to welcome back a couple of his injured players later this month, with both Bacary Sagna and Emmanuel Frimpong closing in on returns after long-term periods of absence. While Frimpong is expected to provide cover for the reinvigorated Abou Diaby in the Gunners’ double-pivot, Sagna’s comeback is of more significance to Fantasy managers, with the right-back revealing:
“One week ago I resumed training with ball. I hoped to be back just after international break, but it will be too close. I missed have missed four months twice [in the last year], so I need to be perfectly fit.”
It seems likely that Sagna will miss the Gunners’ Gameweek 4 home clash with Southampton, then, but his imminent return will have Carl Jenkinson’s Fantasy owners on red alert. The youngster has started all three matches in the Frenchman’s absence and has picked up significant interest due to his side’s trio of clean sheets but Sagna will surely oust him from Wenger’s first XI as soon as he is deemed fit. Certainly, if you have Jenkinson at this point, he’s worth holding until Sagna is ready but snapping him up now looks a seriously risky move.
Meanwhile, Wenger has acknowledged the work put in by Steve Bould in helping the Gunners to three consecutive clean sheets in their opening matches…
“We have played two teams who didn’t really attack, but he [Bould] is doing a good job. We continue our training regime. He has taken over from Pat Rice for the defensive job where he is doing very well. Will we finish with the best defence in the league? I hope so.”
Alan Pardew is sweating over the fitness of Fabricio Coloccini after the centre-half picked up a hamstring problem whilst training with Argentina. His national side released the following statement on their website yesterday:
“Fabricio Coloccini has a hamstring injury in the femoral biceps of his right leg. He will travel with the squad to continue treatment with the team doctor.”
Pardew also received news that Danny Simpson will be out until the end of the month with an injured hamstring. The right-back was subbed off against Villa last weekend and after being assessed by the club’s doctors, went on to reveal:
“It’s a lot better than I first thought. I’ve never had a hamstring problem before. I just felt something bad and I knew straight away I would have to come off. But the scan results came back on Wednesday and it is hopefully three weeks, maybe four maximum. It depends on each person their body and how quickly they recover, but it’s a lot better than what we first thought. Already I’m walking easier than I was on Sunday, so that’s a good sign.”
With a trip to Everton on his Gameweek 4 agenda, it’s hardly ideal for the Magpies boss. While Pardew has Mike Williamson to call upon at centre-half, his right-back options are currently limited; Ryan Taylor is out with a long-term knee injury and with James Perch also a doubt due to a neck problem, Pardew may turn to Vernun Anita to solve the problem. The versatile midfielder filled in for Simpson at the weekend and could be an automatic solution if Cheick Tiote recovers from a calf injury to take his place in central midfield – the Ivorian revealed yesterday he is hopeful of a return against the Toffees.
