Liverpool are set to be without the services of Jose Enrique for up to six weeks due to a hamstring injury. Wayne Rooney looks likely to miss United’s Gameweek 22 clash with Liverpool, Roberto Mancini laughs off his training ground bust-up with Mario Balotelli, Martin Jol has plenty injury worries ahead of Fulham’s FA Cup clash with Blackpool, while Sam Allardyce is on the lookout for a new left-back after injuries plague his backline:
Jose Enrique could be sidelined until mid-to-late February with a hamstring injury, according to Brendan Rodgers. The Liverpool boss revealed yesterday:
“He has looked fantastic in the games but it looks like he’ll probably be out for up to six weeks with his hamstring. It’s a shame because in the game he felt nothing. Sometimes you can enter the games and be tight and stiff. He felt great, and even within the game.”
Enrique initially picked up the problem in the Gameweek 16 win at West Ham but returned to first-team action after missing just one league game. He was then subbed off with the injury again at QPR in Gameweek 20, with Andre Wisdom handed a chance in the side for the following fixture against Sunderland but, with trips to United, Arsenal and City in the next four, faith in the Reds’ backline is likely to lessen. As winter wildcards are wielded ahead of possible two upcoming double Gameweeks, Enrique’s 5% ownership looks set to tumble, with any potential suitors happy to hold off investing in alternative Liverpool cover until the scheduled takes a turn for the better next month.
Wayne Rooney looks set to continue on the sidelines for United, after Sir Alex Ferguson revealed the forward will miss out in the weekend FA Cup clash against West Ham, in addition to the Gameweek 22 league showdown with Liverpool. In his Friday morning press conference, Ferguson admitted:
“Wayne’s still injured, and it looks like going to be out another two weeks or so. It’s a surprise as he was meant to be back training now. So he’ll be out for longer than we thought and I don’t think he will be fit for the Liverpool match. The injury is nothing serious. He just got clipped behind his knee. Nothing shows in the scan but he’s still feeling it. Hopefully in two weeks it’ll be sorted but nonetheless it’s a loss.”
Rooney’s absence should see Javier Hernandez continue alongside Robin Van Persie next weekend after the pair both bagged a brace in the 4-0 win at Wigan. The Mexican started twice over the festive period, producing three goals and an assist as United made light work of Rooney’s absence. While there’s no doubt Hernandez will drop out upon Rooney’s return, he looks in the driving seat to partner Van Persie right now – his 4% FPL owners will be happy to hold in the meantime, though, until Rooney makes a full recovery.
Ferguson also revealed the reasoning behind his decision to rest Nemanja Vidic for a couple of the festive fixtures. Vidic and Rio Ferdinand took turns alternating alongside Jonny Evans in the heart of the back-four over the quick-fire four Christmas schedule and his manager explained:
“I didn’t play Vidic on Tuesday because he played on Saturday against West Brom. At this stage of his recovery and development, playing every seven days suits him better than every three to four days.”
Although the league fixtures now ease a little, Evans’ chances of more minutes may well be boosted as Ferguson looks to juggle FA Cup fixtures and Champions League games. Clearly, he is prepared to be cautious with his captain’s game time after Vidic sustained two lengthy injuries in the past year or so – if the United boss continues in the same vein, Evans’ 5.6 price tag may persuade some to take a gamble; the centre-half already has three goals to his name in just 14 starts.
Finally on United, Ferguson explained Darren Fletcher’s recent absence from first-team action. The midfielder had earned a recall in November after finally overcoming a long-term illness but has managed a single minute over the last six Gameweeks – his lack of game time has apparently been down to the conditions underfoot:
“The pitches over the last few weeks have not suited Darren. They are really heavy pitches. Unfortunately, Old Trafford seems to have collapsed in the last two weeks. We have had six great years out of the pitch. Our groundsman, Tony Sinclair, has done a fantastic job. But it is looking tired now and I think we will have a new pitch in the summer.”
Roberto Mancini’s Friday press conference was eagerly awaited after the City boss was involved in a training ground bust-up with Mario Balotelli the previous day. Many had anticipated the City boss would lay down the law but Mancini played down the incident and once again reiterated his faith in the temperamental forward:
“Mario made a tackle on his team-mate that I would prefer to see in a game and not against a team-mate. I asked him to leave the pitch – he said no so I moved him off. That’s all that happened and it was nothing more than that. Nothing has changed between Mario and me and my thoughts have not changed about him and these things happen from time to time. Will Mario have more chances? I will give him 100 chances as long as I can see him trying to improve and working hard for this football club.”
While Mancini’s words suggest Balotelli will remain in the picture, it’s fair to say his impact this season has been minimal at best. The Italian has managed a single 90 minute appearance this term, finding the net just once, and missed out on the club’s busy festive schedule due to a virus. As the fixtures begin to ease, it remains to be seen just how much of a role he will have over the remainder of the campaign – with no European schedule on their hands, the need for rest and rotation is lessened considerably. Sergio Aguero seems to have nailed down one of the two forward slots – the Argentine has now started 10 of the last 11 league games, suggesting Balotelli may have to settle for battling it out with Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko for game time, in spite of his manager’s words.
Martin Jol has revealed Fulham’s injury list shows little sign of abating ahead of their FA Cup clash with Blackpool. Mark Schwarzer, Damien Duff, Mladen Petric and Mahamadou Diarra all remain on the sidelines, and are joined by Stephen Kelly and John Arne-Riise, with knee and shin injuries respectively. Having started all but one of the Cottagers’ first 19 Gameweeks, Riise has now missed the last couple of matches, with Jol selecting Matthew Briggs ahead of the Norwegian. The Fulham boss confirmed his decision was based on a drop in form on Riise’s behalf prior to the left-back picking up the shin complaint – priced at 3.9 in FPL, Briggs now perhaps has the chance to cement a regular role in the first XI if he continues to impress. Jol also revealed he expects Diarra to be omitted from Mali’s final squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations – the midfielder has been selected in the provisional squad but has failed to play since December 1 due to a knee injury.
Sam Allardyce has admitted he is on the lookout for defensive cover in the upcoming window. The West Ham boss revealed his injury worries ahead of today’s FA Cup clash with Man United:
“We need to find a left-back as quick as we can as well, because Joey O’Brien has a hamstring problem and George McCartney is out for a number of weeks, so we will have to see if there is anyone who we can find in that position for us.”
As yet, the extent of O’Brien’s problem is unclear but any potential absence will be a bitter blow to the 80,000+ FPL managers who drafted him in after a 15 point Gameweek 21 return. If O’Brien is indeed sidelined, Guy Demel’s appeal is set to be boosted ahead of the Hammers’ upcoming double Gameweek 23. Demel’s decision to retire from international football means the right-back will no longer travel with Ivory Coast for the African Cup of Nations later this month – costing just 4.0 in FPL, he offers a real cut-price route into Allardyce’s backline, with starts looking a little more secure in light of yesterday’s news.
