Late Fitness Check - Week 5
We're a full month and four matches into the Premier League season and the injuries are starting to mount in some places while in others the rash of injuries/late starts to training after the World Cup are finally clearing up. Our injury guru Ben Dinnery takes you through each match this weekend with an eye on who is fit to play and who is still struggling. A must read before you lock down your fantasy line-up and get ready to enjoy Week 5 of Premier League action.
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Queens Park Rangers – vs – Stoke
Harry Redknapp will run the rule over Joey Barton (hamstring) & Jordon Mutch (knock) after the pair missed last weekend’s trouncing at Old Trafford but there was better news regarding Eduardo Vargas who has recovered from the minor head injury he suffered during a development match on Monday. Alejandro Faurlin & Jermaine Jenas (both ACL) are long-term while Adel Taarabt suffered an ankle injury in training & is “back to square one” in terms of his fitness.
A number of concerns for Mark Hughes after Jonathan Walters (calf) & full-back Eric Pieters picked up knocks during the loss at home to Leicester – the duo will face a late fitness test but maybe rested with a midweek Capital One cup game coming up. Geoff Cameron (hernia) is still a few weeks away but better news for Stephen Ireland (ribs) who is “hopefully” back in contention. Marko Arnautovic (foot) will have a late fitness test -Peter Odemwingie (ACL) is sidelined long-term.
Aston Villa – vs – Arsenal
Ron Vlaar is still struggling with a calf problem meaning Nathan Baker will probably continue after a shut out at Anfield. Christian Benteke completed his first full week of training “with no adverse reaction” but Lambert confirms the striker has “got a lot of hard work to get himself fit.” Libor Kozak is progressing well and Joe Cole (calf) may not make the squad as he continues to build fitness.
Arsene Wenger will welcome back Calum Chambers (tonsillitis) & Mathieu Flamini (groin) ahead of the trip to Villa Park while Jack Wilshere just “took just a kick on his ankle the other night” and will be available. However Nacho Monreal (back) who was expected to return & Yaya Sanogo (hamstring) remain on the sidelines – Arsenal will discover the full extent of the injury suffered by Mathieu Debuchy later today "We'll know after his examination, [without surgery] it'll be six weeks but if he does need surgery - it will be 3 months."
Burnley – vs – Sunderland
Sean Dyche has confirmed striker Danny Ings (hamstring) is set for a spell out although there is no definitive timescale on his return while Matty Taylor (Achilles) has been ruled out – the player has not responded well to treatment. Sam Vokes is progressing nicely & is targeting a return by the end of October.
Gus Poyet is expected to have a fully fit squad to choose from once again with a number of first team squad members pushing for a place in the eleven – Will Buckley, Emanuele Giaccherini, Jordi Gomez, Liam Bridcutt & Billy Jones are all contention with Steven Fletcher hoping to force his way back into the 18 after missing out against Spurs.
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Newcastle United – vs – Hull City
Newcastle supporters may have forgotten about the game tomorrow with mass protests arranged throughout the city aimed at ousting the current coach Alan Pardew – the atmosphere promises to be electric. The Geordies will be without the services of Siem de Jong (groin), Rolando Aarons (hamstring) and young striker Adam Campbell (hernia) while Papiss Demba Cisse (knee) & Ryan Taylor (ACL) are close but won’t feature. Davide Santon & Curtis Good remain out; loanee Facundo Ferryera is struggling with a back problem.
Steve Bruce has no fresh injury concerns ahead of their trip to St James’ Park – Stephen Quinn (ankle) returned to training on Thursday with Robert Snodgrass (knee) the only confirmed absentee. Abel Hernandez is in line to make his second start after an impressive debut while Gaston Ramirez has stepped up his fitness after joining on-loan from Southampton. Hatem Ben Arfa will not face his parent club due to the terms of his deal.
Swansea City – vs – Southampton
Jordi Amat has been ruled out for between 4-6 weeks after “tweaking” his lateral knee ligaments in the defeat to Chelsea – Frederico Fernandez will make his first competitive start. Marvin Emnes returned to the squad last weekend but was an unused sub at Stamford Bridge however the Dutch forward managed 90 minutes for the development squad on Monday night and could play more of a part against Southampton. Leon Britton & Rory Donnelly are around a month away from a return.
Shane Long (head) has recovered from the minor problem that forced him off against Newcastle last weekend but Sam Gallagher is still a week or two away - Lloyd Isgrove is closing in on a return. Sadio Mané received his work permit but won’t arrive at Southampton until Friday – his involvement is unlikely but Koeman expects the player to feature midweek. Jay Rodriguez is ahead of schedule but the Saints coach refuses to put a timescale on his return.
West Ham United – vs – Liverpool
Sam Allardyce confirmed The Hammers will have the same squad as Monday night with Matthew Jarvis just missing out. Joey O’Brien is expected to be another 10-14 days while Andy Carroll & Kevin Nolan are long-term absentees.
Jon Flanagan is set to miss “a few months” following knee surgery but Martin Skrtel will be added to the Liverpool squad after a return to training. Glen Johnson is not far away & Daniel Sturridge is expected to train fully at some point next week – both players are targeting the derby against Everton. Joe Allen knee injury is worse than initially feared - the Welsh international will be out until early October. Emre Can (ankle) is at least a month away.
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Leicester City – vs – Manchester United
Kasper Schmeichel will return in goal after a knee injury forced him out of last week’s win at the Britannia; his replacement Ben Hamer can consider himself a tad unlucky following his debut shut-out. Matty James (shin) comes into contention after playing for the development squad midweek which just leaves Matthew Upson (foot) & Zoumana Bakayogo (ACL) who remain out with no fixed timescale on their return.
Chris Smalling comes back into contention following his recovery from a groin problem with the injury situation easing in Manchester. Angel Di Maria had a touch of cramp during the win over Queens Park Rangers but he will be fine. Phil Jones (hamstring) & Marouane Fellaini (ankle) are still out while Michael Carrick is not far from a return.
Tottenham Hotspur – vs – West Bromich Albion
Benoit Assou-Ekotto has been suspended for three games by the English FA for his improper use of social media while Andros Townsend will be assessed after picking up a leg injury in Belgrade. Jan Vertonghen, Ben Davies & Roberto Soldado all return to the squad while Moussa Dembele, Nacer Chadli, Younes Kaboul, Emmanuel Adebayor & Danny Rose should all be fresh after they were rested for Thursday’s Europa League tie.
Baggies boss Alan Irvine confirmed that all 25 of his first team squad members trained ahead of the Spurs clash at White Hart Lane. Joleon Lescott (knee) is “close” while Youssouf Mulumbu (hamstring), Stephane Sessegnon (head) & Victor Anichebe (hernia) are available. Varela is still working on his fitness while Ben Foster will battle on through despite his thumb injury with Boaz Myhill (knee) returning to the bench. Christian Gamboa may get his first start since arriving in the summer.
Everton – vs – Crystal Palace
Seamus Coleman is a minor concern after suffering a head injury during the win over Wolfsburg on Thursday; the full-back will be monitored but should be fine. Defender Sylvain Distin (dead leg) is back in contention but Steven Pienaar (groin) will once again miss out. Arouna Kone & Bryan Oviedo “are getting very close to being fully fit,” and Tony Hibbert could return midweek. Ross Barkley is still around 3/4 weeks away.
Marouane Chamakh could be back after missing three weeks because of a hamstring complaint – the Palace striker has “trained for the last few days without a reaction” and will face a late fitness test but may not be risked. Joe Ledley is fit following an unusual problem at Newcastle – the Welsh international had discomfort in his glutes from sitting in the dugout with Warnock unable to bring the midfielder on.
Manchester City – vs – Chelsea
Sergio Aguero will be expecting to start against Chelsea after he was rested midweek especially with Stevan Jovetic (hamstring) ruled out & Edin Dzeko picking up a back problem in Munich – although the Bosnian should make the match-day squad. Fernando (groin) is ruled out but Pellegrini will include Frank Lampard against his former club and Eliaquim Mangala who is now up to speed.
No serious concerns for Chelsea but Jose Mourinho did confirm Diego Costa is not “in the best condition” although the Spanish international WILL start up front. Andre Schurrle has recovered from a minor foot injury which kept him out against Schalke but other than that the Blues should be fine.