Wayne Rooney is expected to be back for the weekend trip to Sunderland after missing United’s draw against Shakhtar. Alvaro Negredo climbs off the bench to notch City’s consolation as they are taken apart by Bayern. Fernando Torres should return in three weeks from a knee injury, Ashley Williams remains sidelined for Swansea’s Europa League match this evening, while Andre Villas-Boas hands Jan Vertonghen and Paulinho the night off as Spurs make their way to Russia:
Rooney Shin Absence for United
David Moyes recalled the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Antonio Valencia and Robin Van Persie for United’s trip to Shakhtar after ringing the changes for Saturday’s loss to West Brom. Whilst the Dutchman’s indifferent season continued with another blank, Danny Welbeck was the goal hero as the Red Devils registered a crucial point against the Ukranian champions.
Most of the talk centred around Wayne Rooney, however, who missed out after picking up a training ground injury – with United set to travel to basement-dwellers Sunderland on Saturday evening, Moyes assured the media he expects the in-form forward to be available to face the Black Cats:
“Wayne will be OK for Saturday. He clashed shins with Danny Welbeck in training and at a push we could have risked him, but in the end we decided not to. My plan wasn’t to use Wayne tonight anyway. He picked up a crack in the shin and it has swollen up. He was going to be on the bench, but he was not able to make it.”
The Scout Says: Rooney’s Fantasy owners will breathe a sigh of relief after a somewhat uncharacteristically candid Moyes eased fears of any potential lay-off. Having notched in three successive league games (compared to Van Persie’s single converted spot-kick since Gameweek 1) Rooney has taken up the mantle as United’s most potent striker under his former Everton mentor so far. With games against Stoke, Southampton and Fulham to follow the Sunderland clash, his potential for points will surely bring plenty more investment his way – current owners and would-be suitors will he hoping for further confirmation of his availability at Friday afternoon’s press conference to quash any concerns completely and get the bandwagon back on track.
Negredo Strike Scant Consolation for City
Manuel Pellegrini welcomed back Sergio Aguero to the City starting line-up last night but watched on as his side were dismantled by reigning champions Bayern. The Argentine was surprisingly partnered by Edin Dzeko as Alvaro Negredo was omitted from the first XI but the latter once again demonstrated his eye for goal by emerging from the bench to grab the hosts’ only strike in the 3-1 defeat. David Silva also appeared as a sub to signal his comeback from injury, while Pellegrini’s decision to opt for Micah Richards over Pablo Zabaleta at right-back raised an eyebrow. After the game, the Chilean defended his decision to opt for Richards, who has rarely played this season after a hamstring injury curtailed his game time:
“I think Micah Richards played very well in the game, Ribery is a very dangerous winger and I don’t think that Ribery was the key factor to win the game today, so I don’t think Micah has responsibility for the score.”
The Scout Says: Whilst the return of Aguero and Silva is a welcome boost to Pellegrini, his decision to drop both Negredo and Zabaleta for such a vital game suggests the pecking order is yet to be established. Having started each of the last three league games, Negredo seemed to have edged ahead of Dzeko after beginning the campaign from the bench but it’s clear Pellegrini’s intentions up front remain difficult to predict, with Aguero the nearest to nailed-on of any frontman. The call to drop Zabaleta was undoubtedly huge, though. The Argentine has played every minute of the league season so far and is owned by almost 33% of FPL managers – the most popular defender in the game – but last night’s team sheet suggest Richards could be set to steal some game time in the right-back berth. Having been benched last night, Zabaleta will surely now return to the XI for Saturday’s home game against Everton – if he’s dropped for that one, though, many will be weighing up their options.
Torres Knee Relief for Chelsea
Chelsea were handed some positive injury news last night after scans revealed Fernando Torres will only be sidelined for three weeks with the knee injury sustained against Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday evening.
The Scout Says: Having lasted only 10 minutes of the 4-0 win in Romania, fears were building that the Spaniard was set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Last night’s prognosis is likely to ensure rest and rotation remains firmly in place up front at the Bridge, then – from a Fantasy perspective, a lengthy injury absence would have been a significant boost to Samuel Eto’o’s prospects given that Jose Mourinho seems wholly unconvinced by Demba Ba. If Torres (who is suspended for this week’s Norwich clash anyway) returns on schedule, he will be back in contention for the Gameweek 9 home clash against City, with Eto’o only secure for the previous week’s home game against Cardiff before his fellow forward is once again available for selection.
Mata Determined to Nail Down Regular Role
Juan Mata has spoken of his intentions to finally clinch a spot in Jose Mourinho’s first XI this term. Discussing his manager’s call to add more defensive work to his game, the Spaniard admitted:
“I have to do this. I will try to improve, score goals, assist and do what I have to do. I’m not the kind of man that gets down. I just keep going, train well and prepare for every game. It’s important to play with the ball and without the ball, but I’m very happy and looking forward to playing a lot of games throughout the season.”
The Scout Says: After earning his manager’s praise for his displays against Spurs and Steaua Bucharest, Mata is finally being afforded the platform to demonstrate the sort of form that produced 162 and 212 points over the last couple of FPL seasons respectively. Down to just 9.6 and with an ownership now under 5%, he approaches the second international break as a real differential – with a home clash against City in Gameweek 9 arguably the only difficult game in the next 10 for Mourinho’s side, Mata could be set to offer an explosive option in our five-man midfields if he continues to adhere to his manager’s demands.
Vertonghen and Paulinho Given Night Off
Andre Villas-Boas has rested Jan Vertonghen and Paulinho for Tottenham’s clash with Anzhi this evening. The duo will skip the trip to Russia along with injured quartet Aaron Lennon, Emmanuel Adebayor, Aaron Lennon and Danny Rose, though the latter is reported to be on course for a return to action in Sunday’s home clash against West Ham.
The Scout Says: The news will be somewhat reassuring for both players’ owners ahead of the weekend match. With Younes Kaboul fit again and Vlad Chiriches offering options in central defence, Villas-Boas is clearly keen to give his star defender the occasional break – Vertonghen, along with Paulinho, is one of only four outfield players to have managed every minute of the league season so far for Spurs. In a campaign where many of the other title contenders have already been hit hard by rotation, it’s somewhat pleasing for Fantasy managers to see Villas-Boas clearly prioritise the duo’s game time in the league over cup ties.
Williams Still Sidelined for Swans
Michael Laudrup has confirmed Ashley Williams will miss Swansea’s Europa League game against St Gallen this evening. Pablo Hernandez is expected to miss out again for the Welsh side, while Angel Rangel remains a doubt with the ankle injury that forced him out of the weekend clash against Arsenal.
The Scout Says: The centre-half has now missed three in a row in all competitions with the problem and with Laudrup again calling on Wales boss Chris Coleman to be cautious with Williams’ game time over the upcoming internationals, it may well be that he chooses to leave the player out of this week’s trip to Southampton. A rest over the international period, however, could prove hugely beneficial to Williams and bring him back onto the radar as the Swans prepare for an eye-catching run of fixture. With a schedule that reads (SUN, WHM, car, STO, ful) from Gameweek 8 onwards, investment in Laudrup’s side seems a viable tactic and Williams (now down to 4.9 in FPL) would surely be targeted by many if he’s given time to rest and recuperate.
Clarke Praise for Amalfitano
West Brom boss Steve Clarke was full of compliments for in-form midfielder Morgan Amalfitano yesterday.
“Morgan’s come in and done great..When you come from a different league sometimes it can take a bit of time to find your feet. But he’s hit the ground running, which is good for us and good for Morgan. If you watched him play at Marseille you would understand why he has settled so quickly into English football because he works ever so hard in games. And I think in the English Premier League you have to have players who are prepared to work really hard. Morgan has always shown that appetite for the game.”
The Scout Says: The on-loan midfielder has made an instant impact upon his arrival from Marseille. The architect behind the Baggies 2-1 win at Old Trafford with a goal and assist, Amalfitano has now notched in both his 90-minute appearances for the midlands club and has racked up 24 points in just three games. Although his form is flourishing, the upcoming schedule is proving to be a deterrent for most – with Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea in the next five, in addition to a derby against Stoke, he remains firmly under the Fantasy radar and, with a current ownership of less than 2%, looks a real differential option right now.
Mirallas Doubtful for Weekend
Roberto Martinez has given Fantasy managers a heads-up in his early-morning press conference today. The Everton boss has admitted Kevin Mirallas’ chances are no more than “50-50” after the Belgian was forced off with an ankle complaint against Newcastle on Monday, whilst Darron Gibson is a doubt and Steve Pienaar is again likely to miss out.
The Scout Says: Mirallas’ potential absence is a real blow for the Toffees after an upturn in form earned him an assist in each of the last two Gameweeks. With Pienaar sidelined, the Toffees boss (who is without loanee Gareth Barry against his parent club) could roll up to the Etihad without either of his first-choice wide men and – providing Gibson is fit, Leon Osman should continue on the left again, while Steven Naismith and on-loan Gerard Deulofeu could battle it out for a spot on the opposite flank, though Arouna Kone was an unused sub against the Magpies and could also stake a claim.
