Luis Suarez is back in the Liverpool squad for tomorrow’s cup clash with United. Theo Walcott and Christian Benteke remains injury concerns after sustaining problems last weekend, Darron Gibson has recovered from injury for Everton, Yohan Cabaye is a worry for Newcastle, while Norwich have concerns over Seb Bassong and Ricky Van Wolfswinkel:
Suarez Set for Reds Comeback
Luis Suarez is back in the Liverpool squad for the first time since April after finally serving the 10-match ban received for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic. The Uruguayan is set to face United in the Capital One Cup tomorrow evening, with Brendan Rodgers admitting he has no qualms over the striker’s sharpness for the Red Devils showdown:
“We have been preparing him for this moment for a number of weeks. You never get the full match fitness until you are playing and you have the crowd and everything but one of the things which has astounded me about him since I’ve been here has been his physicality. This is a guy who has travelled all around the world internationally, played games, came back and I assessed him and thought he might be a bit tired but I put him into the next game and he scored a hat-trick at Wigan…from what I have seen in the training, all the extra work he has put in and all the game time he has been able to collate over the last few weeks, he has had a good preparation to come back.”
The Scout Says: A convincing display against United is likely to spark major Fantasy interest in the Uruguayan over the next few days. With the two most popular forwards in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, Robin Van Persie and Christian Benteke, missing out last weekend, Fantasy managers have wasted little time in trading in the pair as the hectic market activity shows no sign of slowing down. Suarez, at 10.9, looks a ready-made differential with an ownership of just 2% – a schedule that sees Liverpool host Palace, West Brom, Fulham, Norwich and West Ham, in addition to travelling to Sunderland, Newcastle and Hull in the next 10 Gameweeks could well provide the platform for an instant impact.
Johnson Could Be Set for Quick Reds Return
Rodgers received further good news earlier this morning. The Liverpool boss issued an injury update on stricken right-back Glen Johnson and revealed the defender is closing in on a rapid comeback from the ankle problem sustained against United in Gameweek3.
“Glen is the type of player that you don’t realise until he’s not in the team, what you are missing. He is athletic and he started the season very, very well. Against Manchester United he was outstanding. He’s got the boot off his foot and he is working very hard. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks he will be back.”
The Scout Says: There’s no doubt Johnson’s absence at the back has been a real loss to the Merseysiders. The Reds registered a clean sheet in each of the first three Gameweeks with the right-back in the XI but have since conceded in both of the last two, with replacements Andre Wisdom and Kolo Toure both failing to offer the same drive down the flank. Now down to 5.9 in FPL, a possible return to action in time for the Gameweek 8 trip to Newcastle is bound to attract plenty interest.
Walcott Concerns Grow
The Mirror suggests Theo Walcott could be set for a two-week injury lay-off with the injury that kept him out of Sunday’s win over Stoke. While Arsenal have yet to roll out any update, the reports state that scans on the winger’s abdominal problem have proved worse than Arsene Wenger anticipated, with question marks now raised against the likelihood of Walcott playing the next two games prior to the international break.
The Scout Says: Given the volatility of the current market, any lay-off would spark significant sales over the next few days. A fortnight’s domestic absence would mean Walcott doesn’t feature again until October 19, at home to Norwich – 25 days from now. Despite no official word from the club, the sales have picked up since his late withdrawal against the Potters – Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey offer obvious in-form alternative routes into the Arsenal midfield should the winger indeed be ruled out. An injury update from Wenger can’t come soon enough.
Lambert Still Uncertain on Benteke Injury
Paul Lambert rolled out an injury update yesterday afternoon as Villa prepare for a Capital One Cup clash against Tottenham. The midlanders’ boss admitted he will make numerous changes to his XI with one eye on Saturday’s league game against City – the likes of Gabby Agbonlahor, Antonio Luna, Ciaran Clark and Fabian Delph all picked up problems in the weekend win at Norwich, though it was Christian Benteke who was the main subject of interest from the press, after he limped off at Carrow Road with a hip injury. Lambert conceded he was still in the dark over the prognosis:
“We don’t know yet. We are waiting for the scan today and then waiting for the results so we will just have to wait and see. I can’t comment on something I don’t know about until the results come back and then we will know what is happening. If you look at his injury he has actually slipped at that moment. I’m not a doctor but we will have to wait until the results come back and speak to the relevant people that we think are the best in that field. You are sitting hoping it is going to be pretty quick but you don’t know and I have to wait and see when I get a call later to see what everybody’s thinking.”
The Scout Says: While Lambert has to anxiously await the news on Benteke’s injury, Fantasy managers have shown little patience with the big Belgian. Sold on by over 87,000 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game despite scoring four goals in his opening four games, Benteke has been afforded little patience as frontlines are quickly restructured. With City, Spurs and Everton all paying visit in the next four, the schedule certainly makes the decision a little easier, though having already scored against both Arsenal and Chelsea already this term, Benteke could make those early sellers pay if he’s back in time to face City this weekend.
Mixed News for Martinez
Everton will welcome back Darron Gibson to the fold for this evening’s cup clash against Fulham. The former United man has yet to feature this season due to a knee injury but is now considered “fully fit” by Roberto Martinez – the Toffees boss also admitted that Steven Pienaar will remain on the sidelines and is likely to be joined by Leon Osman, who is set to undergo a groin scan after being subbed off early in the second-half against West Ham last weekend.
The Scout Says: While Gibson’s return will add to the options for the Merseysiders three-man midfield, a potential spell on the sidelines for Osman bodes well for Ross Barkley owners. The youngster continued his eye-catching season with a pair of assists against the Hammers and looks to remain in the driving seat in the most advance central midfield role in spite of Gibson’s recovery – the latter could now vie with James McCarthy for a role alongside Gareth Barry in front of the back-four.
Cabaye Worry for Toon
Alan Pardew is sweating on the fitness of Yohan Cabaye after the Frenchman was subbed off in last weekend’s home loss to Hull. Cabaye underwent scans on a groin problem yesterday and is a doubt for tomorrow night’s home cup tie with Leeds.
The Scout Says: Having not long returned to the fold after his refusal to play for the Magpies, Cabaye’s first start of the season helped steer Pardew’s side to a win at Villa back in Gameweek 4. Withdrawn on the hour mark at the weekend with the game against Steve Bruce’s side all-square, his absence was sorely-felt as the visitors went on to clinch a late victory. A key figure in the midfield three in Newcastle’s recent move to 4-3-3, a potential spell on the sidelines for Cabaye could be disastrous for the Tyneside team – Pardew’s side now have Everton, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs in four of the next six Gameweeks.
Injury Concerns for Hughton
Norwich boss Chris Hughton revealed he has worries at both ends of the pitch for tomorrow’s cup trip to Watford. The Canaries boss confirmed Seb Bassong is out of the Vicarage Road clash, while Ricky Van Wolfswinkel is one of a few players nursing knocks ahead of a game which is set to see Gary Hooper handed his first start since recovering from a shin injury:
“Seb will certainly miss tomorrow’s game. He’s having a scan today so we’ll assess it then. We hope it’s not so bad. It was a slight hamstring that he went off with, so we’re hoping it’s not as bad as first thought. We’ve got a few knocks and bruises but we’re ok. Ricky got a knock – a whack on the side of his toe – and at the moment he’s a little bit sore but we don’t feel it’s anything too serious.”
The Scout Says: With a single goal scored in their last four league games, Hughton will be relieved Hooper is approaching full fitness, after the former Celtic man had impressed in pre-season before picking up the shin problem. Van Wolfswinkel has failed to build on the opening day strike against Everton and is likely to be rested in order to prevent further problems ahead of the weekend trip to Stoke – bearing in mind the Potters drew with City in the previous clash at the Britannia, Hughton will be desperate for Bassong’s return as the hosts look to bounce back from Sunday’s loss at the Emirates.
