Team News: Late Fitness Check – GW18

This last week has been dominated by the managers as fallout from the departure of Jose Mourinho rumbles on.

A home defeat to Norwich last time out did nothing to quell growing rumour that Louis van Gaal was on his way out of Old Trafford. Ed Woodward attended a ‘commercial-related’ meeting in London on Tuesday which sent the media world into a spin, many proclaiming the Dutchman had been sacked but the executive vice-chairman denied the managers’ future had been discussed ……… Which all made for a very interesting press conference on Thursday. A perfectly executed diversionary tactic (quite possibly) but Van Gaal walked out of his pre-match briefing after just eight minutes. “He answered one or two questions before he got up and left,” one reporter wrote. “It seemed a pre-meditated attack on the media.”

Real Madrid (apparently) and United (of course) have all been linked to Mourinho over the past seven days although how much is mere speculation is anyone guess. All we do know for certain is that the Special One is keen on an “immediate return to management.” Destination currently unknown.

Over at Chelsea, Guus Hiddink is “glad to be back” but insisted: “It won’t be easy to fix the teams problems immediately. Sometimes after a championship you relax and get a wake-up call. We cannot ignore what has happened in the past but I have asked the players to give their best and look forward now.”

Claudio Ranieri says the Leicester fans “are dreaming and I don’t want to wake them up” after the Foxes topped the Christmas charts. “We must enjoy, play free and without pressure. If the world are speaking about you then you enjoy and continue to play.”

Bournemouth made it five unbeaten including three-wins on the bounce and Eddie Howe was full of praise for his next opponents: “They’re a club that we look at and would like to emulate. They are run very well and now stable in the Premier League.”

Arsenal are on the right track and their “train is going the right way” following a victory over Man City on Monday night. In a very untypical Gunners performance, the home side managed just 37 per cent possession (their lowest this season) but were clinical scoring twice from two shots on target during an opening forty-five which secured all three-points.

Last weekends’ win at Old Trafford will mean nothing unless Alex Neils’ side “kick on and pick up more results” while Mauricio Pochettino feels Tottenham deserve more praise for their achievements this season. “People don’t realise the effort we make and how hard our players work because we are the youngest squad in the Premier League.”

That’s all for now. Keeping following over the holidays. Team news plus player updates will be added throughout to help keep you on point ahead of a hectic BPL fixture schedule.

I’d like to take this opportunity of wishing you all a ‘Very Merry Christmas’ from myself and the rest of the team. 

Stoke City – vs — Manchester United  

Geoff Cameron is rated as “touch and go” but the midfielder will be given up until the last moment to prove his fitness. “It’s more likely that he will miss out at this moment I would suggest,” said Mark Hughes. Peter Crouch has re-joined the group “but he isn’t ready yet,” the forward could return in GW19 but Stephen Ireland will be missing until the New Year as he “struggling” to overcome a hamstring strain. “Other than that we are OK.”  

Louis van Gaal revealed there were no major developments on the ‘injury front’ although Matteo Darmian has a chance for the Chelsea game. “We will see,” confirmed the Dutchman. Man United expect to have the same squad as last weekend. “There is no difference. Only that, for example, Phil Jones has played 90 minutes and had no reaction so that’s a good signal.” Having failed to register a single win since the last gasp victory at Watford (game week 13) United have dropped to fifth and another defeat on Boxing Day could be the end for LvG if the latest media reports are to be believed.

AFC Bournemouth – vs — Crystal Palace      

Eddie Howe is “unsure” whether Junior Stanislas or Josh King will feature over Festive period after the pair picked up hamstring problems at West Brom. “Josh felt a slight niggle so we didn’t want to risk him and Junior was similar. We don’t think it’s anything that’s going to keep any player out for weeks. But whether they make the next few games, we don’t know.” Glenn Murray will lead the attack and Marc Pugh is best placed to deputise if Stanislas fails to recover in time. Lee Tomlin is closing in a return as he approaches full fitness but Tommy Elphick won’t be rushed back following ankle surgery.

A heel injury kept Yohan Cabaye sidelined at Stoke and the playmaker will face a late fitness test before the trip to The Vitality. Joe Ledley should retain his place if the Frenchman fails to recover. Chung-Yong Lee is also pushing for a start – and will feature over Christmas – following his stunning 30-yard effort which helped take all 3-pts from the Britannia. Alan Pardew remained tight lipped on the fitness of Connor Wickham and Yannick Bolasie but both are struggling to make the game. No Bakary Sako or Dwight Gayle, however, club captain Mile Jedinak (ankle) returns after missing the last 2-games.

Liverpool – vs — Leicester City

Simon Mignolet has “trained normally” and will return to the Liverpool squad. Despite his recent form the Belgium international is poised for an immediate return after an Adam Bogdan clanger at Vicarage Road. Dejan Lovren is also training “he is available for Saturday” and the defender will replace Martin Skrtel who could miss up-to six weeks because of a hamstring strain. James Milner “has no chance” although a specific timeline on his recovery from a calf strain is still not known. “Now we have to wait. One or two weeks, I don’t know exactly.” Daniel Sturridge won’t come under consideration until he has completed “8,9,10 days of training” which is likely to mean the striker is out until January.  

“Danny Drinkwater is getting better but I don’t want to risk him,” said Claudio Ranieri. Andy King “played very well” at Goodison and the 27-year-old will keep his place in midfield. Robert Huth will be recalled after missing the win over Everton through suspension – Marcil Wasilewski is expected to drop out. “Everybody is ok” which should mean Jamie Vardy is included despite limping off clutching his hamstring.

Tottenham Hotspur – vs — Norwich City      

Ryan Mason has trained following his recovery from an ankle injury. Pochettino confirms: “He is available if I decide to pick him,” while Danny Rose (illness) and Harry Kane (knee) have also been passed fit. Clinton N’Jie could miss up-to three months following knee ligament surgery and Alex Pritchard is still out. “Everyone else in the squad is available for selection.”

No fresh injury concerns for Norwich. Andre Wisdom (hamstring) is rated as “touch and go” and will face a late fitness test. Alex Neil will make changes for the trip to White Hart Lane with one eye on the (more winnable) Aston Villa game two days later. Matt Jarvis is close but is not ready just yet.

Manchester City – vs — Sunderland       

Manuel Pellegrini confirms the treatment room is beginning to empty at City. “Vincent Kompany, Fernando and Pablo Zabaleta are all fit and training normally.” Only Samir Nasri (hamstring) remains on the sidelines. The Chilean boss also suggested that Sergio Aguero is not fully match fit and the Argentine will be rotated. “Maybe for three or four games he won’t play 90 mins as he’s coming back.” City are looking for a return to winning ways after a disappointing defeat at The Emirates left them 6-pts off top spot.

Defensive problems are beginning to mount for Sam Allardyce. Younes Kaboul will miss “several weeks” after suffering a nasty hamstring strain against Chelsea while full-back Adam Matthews is sidelined (once again) after damaging ankle ligaments. No Lee Cattermole (back) although the captain isn’t too far away but Seb Larsson (knee) will be lucky to play again this year. Jack Rodwell is suspended so Jordi Gomez is in line for a rare start. Jeremain Lens returns to the squad after missing out last weekend due to ‘disciplinary reasons.’

Chelsea — vs — Watford

Guus Hiddink takes charge for the first time on Saturday and it remains to be seen what, if any, changes will be made. The Dutchman watched from the stands against Sunderland and was duly impressed by his new sides performance – particularly during the first half. Eden Hazard trained individually for the first time on Tuesday. “It’s too soon to say if he will be back.” Gary Cahill is among those hoping for a recall under the new boss. 

Watford are four from four and fresh from their emphatic win over Liverpool. Quique Flores kept the same eleven for that game but Nathan Ake won’t feature under the terms of his loan agreement and the Italian will be forced into at least one change. Ikechi Anya and Jose Holebas are the players competing for chance to deputise. Sebastian Prodl is training but the defender has struggled to force his way back into the squad. Valon Behrami (calf) will be looking to build upon his brief ten-minute cameo last time out having missed the previous month because of a calf injury. 

Swansea City – vs — West Bromwich Albion

Angel Rangel could return to the squad after a scan revealed the full-back only suffered a mild ankle sprain against West Ham – Kyle Naughton is on standby. Wayne Routledge (knee) is also close after missing Sundays’ bore-draw and Jonjo Shelvey will be pushing for a start following minutes from the bench. Eder (ankle ligaments) and Tabanou (thigh strain) will not return until early 2016.

Tony Pulis confirms Salomon Rondon and James McClean will be “punished in-house” after they were sent off against AFC Bournemouth. The pair are ruled out until mid-January. Saido Berahino is preparing for his first start since the end of October. Claudio Yacob is added to the squad after he returned from Argentina following a recent family bereavement. “We have two games in three days over Christmas, so we will definitely rotate the squad,” confirmed the Baggies boss.

Aston Villa – vs – West Ham United

Remi Garde remains optimistic that Micah Richards could return to face West Ham after missing the three previous games due to a knee complaint: “Micah is improving. I won’t know until the end of the week. (It is too early) so it’s difficult for me to give more info than that.” Villa were much improved during the second half at St James Park and one potential change could see Rudy Gestede replace Scott Sinclair after the big centre-forward impressed from the bench. 

Slaven Bilic confirms Dimitri Payet “is ahead of schedule” and the playmaker should re-join the group after the Aston Villa match which “might” put him in contention for Liverpool on Jan 02. Manuel Lanzini “is progressing and will probably” make the Southampton game. “It looks like it will be the same squad as Swansea,” said the Hammers manager. “We could have one or two back” for the game at the Boleyn Ground – two days later – which would include Andy Carroll who is currently sidelined after tweaking his groin in training.

Newcastle United – vs — Everton

Aleksandar Mitrovic is in line for his first Premier League start in over a month as Cisse is expected to miss out. “We’re assessing Papiss as to the severity of his (groin) injury but he’s a struggle and a doubt for the weekend.” Ivan Toney has been recalled from his loan spell at Barnsley to provide additional back up. Jamaal Lascelles has trained with the group since Tuesday but there is still no sign of Mike Williamson. Rolando Aarons may play some part over Christmas; the winger should re-join the squad by the end of the week. Emmanuel Riviere is targeting a return in January along with Steven Taylor who is “coming along well.”

“There are no new injuries,” confirmed Roberto Martinez. “Steven Pienaar, Phil Jagielka, James McCarthy and Bryan Oviedo will play some part in the next seven games” but the quartet are “unlikely” to return on Boxing Day. Steven Naismith has trained and he should be okay for Newcastle. “He had an ankle niggle,” said the Everton boss.

Southampton – vs – Arsenal

No fresh injury concerns for Southampton who welcome back Maarten Stekelenburg following his recovery from a toe injury; Paulo Gazzaniga expected to make way. The Saints were disappointing (again) last weekend against Tottenham despite a host of changes and Ronald Koeman may be tempted to shuffle his pack in an attempt to secure 3-pts for only the second time in seven matches. Fraser Forster (patellar tendon) has returned to full training but the England goalkeeper will play for the under-21s in January as he regains his fitness (and confidence) after more than 9-months out.  

Alexis Sanchez suffered a slight setback on Saturday in his recovery from a hamstring strain. “I think he will be back January 10. Christmas period – you can’t count him,” said Wenger. “He planned to be on the bench (vs Man City) but we didn’t take a gamble.” Other than a few “bumps and bruises” Arsenal came through the win over Pellegrini’s men relatively unscathed. Mikel Arteta is the closest to a return otherwise the squad will remain unchanged barring any last minute problems. 

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