No early kick-off, no evening encounter, today is a strange introduction to the Gameweek. We’re take what we’re given though, comforted by Sunday fixture list that boasts a lip-smacking Manchester derby. There’s plenty of returns on offer from today’s events, however, with Michu and an array of Sunderland and Reading assets sporting the armband for many in the three o’clock programme. Our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now open to collect your reactions as that select band go to work in the quest to earn us points.
The team news brings us a significant bulletin from the Stadium of Light, with Steven Fletcher, perhaps not surprisingly, omitted from Martin O’Neill’s lineup to face Chelsea. Presumably he’s being preserved for the midweek clash with Reading, a fixture that appears to offer more hope of returns. Even so, Fletcher’s double Gameweek becomes a single: an immediate blow to those who tossed the armband his way.
Elsewhere, Gaston Ramirez only makes the bench for Southampton having flown back from Uruguay in midweek, Bacary Sagna shakes off his ankle injury to replace Carl Jenkinson in the Gunners lineup to face West Brom who themselves make four changes: Liam Ridgewell, James Morrison, Peter Odemwingie and Chris Brunt all start with Goran Popov, Markus Rosenberg and Graham Dorrans making way; Claudio Yacob has a minor hamstring injury.
Victor Moses is again preferred to Oscar in Rafa’s Chelsea lineup at Sunderland; Oriol Romeu retains his place with Mikel suspended, while Frank Lampard is on the bench. Leon Britton is sidelined by a knee injury sustained in training for Swansea, so Wayne Routledge returns to give Michael Laudrup’s side an attacking feel; Danny Graham has recovered from illness and replaces Itay Shechter up front. Their opponents Norwich also make two changes with Russell Martin and Jonny Howson replacing Ryan Bennett and Alex Tettey.
