Chelsea, Everton and West Brom all have concerns up front as we head into the last international break of the season. Southampton are pessimistic over the fitness over their number one, whilst the Baggies are set to be without Ben Foster for a number of months. Here’s our round-up of the weekend’s injury news…
Arsenal
Mesut Ozil’s run of seven straight starts came to an end at St James’ Park on Saturday after the German missed out with a minor illness, according to the Gunners’ website.
Aston Villa
Christian Benteke and Tom Cleverley are set to be assessed after both were forced off during Saturday’s home loss to Swansea. Post-match, Tim Sherwood discussed the big Belgian’s injury and hopes to have more options available at the back when domestic action resumes in a fortnight’s time:
“Benteke took a painkiller. He’s had a problem with his hip. In the end he had to come off because it was too sore. I don’t know how bad it is. He’s being assessed by the physios. Our concern is in the defensive areas. We’ve got two fit defenders in the whole club, so hopefully this international break gets the opportunity for the physio to work a bit of magic on them. I’ve done all what I can do. I’d just like a few more fit players, please!”
Chelsea
Jose Mourinho has confirmed Diego Costa is an early doubt for Chelsea’s Gameweek 31 clash against Stoke after being forced off on 75 minutes during yesterday’s narrow win at Hull:
“It’s a hamstring injury. When a striker is playing, the team needs a goal to win the game and he says it’s over for him, it’s over. He tried to play the Champions League final with Atletico and was injured, he has that fragility, we know his hamstring is not a strong one. He works hard in the week to compensate for the weakness he has there but the injury can come. We have Remy and Drogba, we never cry about injured players so let’s move on.”
Everton
The Toffees have worries up front heading into the international break. Romelu Lukaku and Arouna Kone are set to be assessed after both were forced off during Sunday’s 2-1 win at QPR. Speaking to the club’s official website, Roberto Martinez conceded:
“Arouna Kone is the one that we are a little more worried about. He is going to have a scan on his knee in the next 48 hours. In the action of the goal, he got a really strong knock. Romelu Lukaku, I hope that it only fatigue with the amount of games that he has played. We hope it is just cramp rather than an injury. We will find out more about that before he joins up with Belgium.”
Liverpool
Adam Lallana was replaced at the break after suffering a recurrence of a groin problem. The midfielder, along with team-mate Martin Skrtel (abdominal problem), has since withdrawn from international duties over the next fortnight. Daniel Sturridge is also a concern – the striker is a doubt for England’s clash with Lithuania on Friday after sustaining a hip problem against United and is set to be assessed.
Southampton
Ronald Koeman fears the worst after Fraser Forster was withdrawn on 14 minutes against Burnley due to suspected knee ligament damage. After the 2-0 win, the Saints boss also went on to talk up replacement Kelvin Davis’ display between the posts:
“He’s (Forster) now in the hospital. He’s taking a scan and we have to wait but it’s not looking very positive about his knee. What really happened we have to wait about the scan but the doctor wasn’t very positive. It’s difficult because it was a long time ago that he (Davis) played but the positive thing is that he’s an experienced goalkeeper. He’s not by himself nervous to come in, he looks comfortable and that’s important for the defenders and the team organisation and everything can happen in football. A little bit unlucky for Fraser and I hope it will be good news from the doctor but it’s looking negative but we will see.”
Sunderland
Wes Brown was forced off early in the 1-0 loss at West Ham – the centre-half fell awkwardly after heading a Hammers cross to safety.
Swansea
Leon Britton missed the Swans’ 1-0 win at Villa Park with a back spasm, the club’s official website confirmed.
Tottenham
Hugo Lloris was stretchered off with a knee problem during the weekend win over Leicester. The Frenchman required several minutes’ treatment after colliding with team-mate Kyle Walker and post-match, Mauricio Pochettino admitted he’s anxiously awaiting an update:
“He’s in hospital with the doctor and we wait for news. He got a big cut on the tendon of his knee. We hope it’s nothing big.”
Earlier today, Erik Dier withdrew from England Under 21 duties with an eye injury sustained against the Foxes.
West Brom
Ben Foster was expected to be sidelined for four weeks after sustaining a knee injury in the Baggies’ Gameweek 29 win over Stoke. On Saturday evening, however, the Midlands outfit confirmed he will miss the next six months after exploratory surgery on Friday found the injury to be far worse than initially predicted.
The problems mount for Tony Pulis after Saido Berahino withdrew from the England Under-21 squad yesterday due to a foot injury.
