The orderly queue to Everton’s treatment room has grown further with two more updates from Goodison in the last 24-hours. As David Moyes begins to contemplate another spell without striker Louis Saha, he now has to digest the fact that Jack Rodwell’s season is looking under threat, while Seamus Coleman is also a concern for the visit of Villa in a week’s time.
Rodwell is undoubtedly the major concern for Moyes. The rumoured £20 million target for Man United suffered an ankle injury in the 2-1 win over Fulham on Saturday which saw him withdraw from the England U21 squad – reports now suggest that the injury is far worse than expected. According to the latest claims, Rodwell’s could even sit out the rest of the season. The midfielder has been sent to see a specialist and there are fears that he could be out for at least a month.
Everton’s woes continued with the news that Coleman has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad for their Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia this weekend – he also has an ankle injury, again sustained in Saturday’s win over Fulham.
As we mentioned yesterday, David Moyes is already without Marouane Fellaini for the season, while Mikel Arteta faces another month out and Louis Saha’s season may also have come to an end. With Rodwell joining their ranks and Coleman presumably a doubt for the Goodison clash with Villa in gameweek 31, the Everton squad now looks pretty ragged.
Given the absentees in midfield, Jermain Beckford, at 4.9 in the Fantasy Premier Leauge, is beginning to look assured of starts up front with Tim Cahill set for a support role. Leon Osman’s place and responsibility as the creative playmaker is also looking nailed-on, while both Phil Neville and John Heitinga could remain in the engine room. David Moyes may even have to put some faith in Diniyar Bilyaletdinov – it’s got that bad.
In Fantasy terms, it’s Beckford and Cahill who could emerge from this spate of injuries with boosted potential – their returns however will depend greatly on whether the likes of Osman and Leighton Baines down the left, can provide the ammunition.
