With Swansea and Liverpool yet to play out the Gameweek tomorrow evening, we take a look at the new injury worries caused by the weekend’s nine fixtures.
Chelsea
Willian was replaced by Juan Cuadrado with just eight minutes remaining of today’s home draw with Southampton after picking up an injury, according to match reports.
Crystal Palace
Alan Pardew is sweating over the availability of a couple of key first-team players after Jason Puncheon (hamstring) and Wilfried Zaha (hip) were both forced off during the weekend win over QPR.
Everton
Roberto Martinez has confirmed that Kevin Mirallas missed today’s win over Newcastle with a knock sustained in Thursday’s Europa League victory over Dinamo Kiev. The Belgian is expected to recover in time for this week’s return trip to the Ukraine, though, after failing a late fitness test earlier today.
QPR
Rio Ferdinand missed the trip to Selhurst Park due to illness, the club’s official website has confirmed.The R’s right-back Darnell Furlong was replaced by Clint Hill at the break in Saturday’s defeat at Palace after sustaining a calf complaint, according to manager Chris Ramsey:
”Darnell came off and the only reason he did so was because his calf stiffened up and it wouldn’t have been fair to keep him on. He didn’t come off because they scored two goals.”
Southampton
Eljero Elia missed today’s trip to the Bridge with a twisted ankle, according to the local press.
Stoke
Jonathan Walters was forced off on 67 minutes with a head injury following a collision with Craig Dawson in the Potters’ 1-0 loss at West Brom. Erik Pieters was withdrawn at the break, whilst match reports indicate that Victor Moses was replaced on 57 minutes due to injury. After the match, Mark Hughes gave an update on the former and admitted he has concerns over Walters’ availability:
”Erik should be ok next weekend, but Jon is our main concern at the moment. He looks as though he has a nasty bang on his cheekbone which may well be a fracture and that will have to be checked on Monday. We hope it isn’t but it’s looking as though it could be a serious one that will keep him out for a few games.”
Sunderland
Steven Fletcher was subbed off injured on 82 minutes after sustaining what appeared to be a thigh problem during the Black Cats’ 4-0 home hammering by Villa.
West Brom
Tony Pulis faces an anxious wait on Ben Foster’s fitness after the keeper was forced off with a knee injury during the Baggies’ win over Stoke, whilst match-winner Brown Ideye was also withdrawn late on with a similar complaint.
After the match, Pulis confirmed Foster is set for scans after sustaining the injury in a challenge with the Potters’ Peter Crouch:
“We will have to get him checked. He felt his left knee go from under him. We need him fit.”
West Ham
The Hammers keeper Adrian played from start to finish in the 3-0 loss at Arsenal despite dislocating his finger in the warm-up. Assistant boss Neil McDonald revealed post-match:
”He’s been a brave lad today because he could easily have pulled out. And he’s made some great saves. He has his finger strapped up to play and I’m hoping that if he played today he should alright for next week. He did it in the warm-up but he wanted to carry on. I haven’t ever dislocated my finger so I don’t know how much pain he was in but it’s obviously a big thing for a goalkeeper.”
