Papiss Cisse is ruled out of Newcastle’s trip to Anzhi due to a virus, though Hatem Ben Arfa is expected to feature for the Magpies. Jermain Defoe looks set to replace Emmanuel Adebayor up top for Tottenham’s trip to Inter, Victor Moses and Ramirez are left out of Chelsea’s Europa League squad to face Steaua Bucharest, while Steve Clarke is hopeful a number of players can shake off minor injuries for West Brom’s home clash with Swansea:
Alan Pardew has confirmed Papiss Cisse has been omitted from Newcastle’s Europa League squad for tonight’s match against Anzhi due to illness. Speaking to the club’s official website yesterday, the Magpies boss revealed:
“Papiss has been sick since Sunday, so myself and the doctor went to see him this morning to see whether we felt he could travel – with me definitely thinking he could. But he didn’t look well, to be honest, so we’ve had to leave him behind unfortunately.”
Cisse has already risen in price in FPL this week, with more than 8,000 managers snapping him up ahead of a crucial home clash with Stoke. Pardew is a little short in striking options right now – he admitted he was somewhat reluctant to take Shola Ameobi to Russia and is concerned the playing conditions could prove problematic to the player’s long-term knee complaint. Ameobi looks in pole position to lead the line against the Potters should Cisse fail to make it, while Hatem Ben Arfa is edging his way back into contention – Pardew confirmed the Frenchman is set to play some part in this evening’s match after hamstring and fitness issues.
Rafa Benitez has decided to omit both Victor Moses and Ramires from Chelsea’s squad to face Steaua Bucharest tonight. Moses has made just two brief sub appearances in the league since helping Nigeria to the African Cup of Nations last month, while Ramires has proven a key member of Benitez’s starting XI, playing 90 minutes in all but one of the last 10 Gameweeks. Yossi Benayoun is back in the squad after a brief ankle problem and could play a part, with Benitez expected to make plenty alterations ahead of the weekend FA Cup Sixth Round clash against United. Demba Ba is, of course, ineligible this evening, having played for Newcastle in the same competition earlier this season and looks likely to edge out Fernando Torres for Sunday afternoon’s trip to Old Trafford.
Jermain Defoe is expected to return to the Tottenham starting line-up for this evening’s Europa League trip to Inter. Reports indicate that Emmanuel Adebayor is thought to only have a “slight chance” of recovering in time from the knee problem that forced him off against Arsenal last Sunday and, while the Togo international should be fit for this weekend’s trip to Liverpool, the San Siro clash could come too soon. Having only just recovered from a recent ankle injury, Defoe looks likely to lead the line for the in-form north London outfit, while Andre Villas-Boas is also set to welcome Mousa Dembele back – the Belgian has recovered from the knee issue sustained against the Gunners and has returned to full training.
Steve Clarke rolled out a substantial injury update yesterday ahead of West Brom’s weekend home game against Swansea. The Baggies boss admitted that, while a handful of his first-team regulars have struggled to train this week, he is confident the situation will have eased off by Saturday:
“Claudio (Yacob) has a knock, hasn’t trained, but should be okay. Steven Reid has a knock, hasn’t trained this week, but he should also be okay. Jonas (Olsson) didn’t train on Monday but trained yesterday and Youssouf Mulumbu had a migraine but he’s fine now. Hopefully everyone will be fine tomorrow.”
Clarke also went on to reveal that Chris Brunt and Shane Long both sustained twisted ankles in the past week. While Long is now “okay” after picking up the problem in last Saturday’s narrow defeat at Chelsea, Brunt – who missed the Stamford Bridge match altogether with the complaint – remains a real doubt; he attempted to return to training earlier in the week but was forced out after the problem played up again.
Brian McDermott rolled out an injury update first thing this morning. The Reading boss has revealed Adam Federici will remain sidelined with the ankle problem that kept him out of last weekend’s trip to Everton – a bitter blow for the Australian’s 5% FPL owners, with some likely to be without a keeper in light of the reduced fixture schedule. Stuart Taylor is set to step in for the Royals, with Alex McCarthy still not ready to return from a shoulder injury. McDermott also admitted Jimmy Kebe remains a doubt with the groin injury that forced him off at Goodison last time out.
