Team News: Late Fitness Check GW37
The race for the Premier League title is over. While Leicester could only draw at Old Trafford, an Eden Hazard inspired Chelsea prompted a second half fight back to end the Lilywhites charge…. For this season at least!
Qualification places still remain up for grabs in Europa and while United have momentum from their Cup run, it will be interesting to see how City react following their Champions League exit. Any slip-ups and remarkably Van Gaal may get his wish of a fourth place finish. West Ham aren’t out of the running just yet and the Hammers will be looking to avenge their quarter-final loss to United on Tuesday night.
Arsenal are targeting second place with Tottenham facing two tricky games – a Southampton side pushing for the Europa League and final day trip to Tyneside. Harry Kane aside, Spurs will be without arguably their two best players this season as Mousa Dembele and Dele Alli are suspended.
Newcastle leap-frogged Norwich and Sunderland with a win last weekend and for the first time since February the Geordies move out of the Bottom Three. However, the pair do have a game in hand although its points in the bag that count at this stage of the season.
Norwich City – vs – Manchester United
Alex Neil will give Ryan Bennett every chance to prove himself although he admits the defender ‘is still struggling.’ The 26-year-old trained before the Arsenal game last weekend but ‘he took a turn for the worse. It will be a real last-minute call.’ Alex Tettey is progressing following ankle surgery but the midfielder will be out until next season. Andre Wisdom has ended his loan agreement at the club after damaging knee ligaments. Timm Klose faces a race against time to play at this simmer’s European Championships. The Swiss international has a 50-50 chance of playing in France after having his knee brace removed this week.
Van Gaal ‘has options’ for the early kick off. However, the Dutchman will assess the condition of his squad before making any decisions. ‘There’s an overload of matches, so maybe I have to rotate.’ Marouane Fellaini will begin a three-match ban with immediate effect ruling him out of the remaining Premier League games. The Belgian was charged with violent conduct by the Football Association following an incident last weekend which was missed by match officials, but caught on camera. Fellaini was seen swinging an elbow as he reacted to having his hair pulled by Robert Huth. Fortunately, he will be available for the FA Cup final on May 21. Ander Herrera is expected to come into the starting XI while Juan Mata, Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin and Fosu-Mensah should feature at some point with a game against West Ham in three days. Luke Shaw remains ‘hopeful’ that fans will get a chance to see him in action before the end of the season, although the full-back is facing a race against time. Back on the training pitches, the 20-year-old is getting ‘better and fitter, day by day.’ Bastian Schweinsteiger won’t play domestically again in 2015/16 although Oliver Bierhoff (Germany General Manager) has said the 31-year-old is ‘very confident’ of playing at this summers’ Euro 2016 tournament.
Sunderland – vs – Chelsea
Billy Jones is struggling to shake off a hip complaint. Otherwise the Black Cats have a clean bill of health. But, despite naming an unchanged team for five-matches, Sam Allardyce plans to rotate. ‘We’ll probably change the side more in these three games than we have done since the turn of the year,’ he said. Seb Larsson, Duncan Watmore and Jack Rodwell will all come into the manager’s thinking while Jeremain Lens – who has recovered from illness – is hoping to make the match day squad.
No fresh injury concerns for Guus Hiddink – only long term absentees Loic Remy and Kurt Zouma remain in the treatment room. Thibaut Courtois is available again following his two-game suspension, however, Asmir Begovic will consider himself very unlucky if he has to make way for Belgium stopper. Expect Eden Hazard to return to the starting line-up following his game changing introduction at Stamford Bridge. His stunning winner and brilliant second half performance quite rightly won him all the plaudits and the man-of-the-match award.
Aston Villa – vs – Newcastle United
Jordan Veretout (hip), Rudy Gestede (groin) and Richardson (calf) are all doubts for the visit of Newcastle. Aly Cissokho will serve a one-game ban following his sending off at Watford which means Micah Richards could play at left-back if Kieran Richardson fails to recover in time. Gabby Agbonlahor is available following his lengthy apology. But the former club captain lacks match fitness and is expected to miss out again. Kevin Toner impressed Eric Black last weekend and the academy player is likely to retain his place in the starting XI. Jores Okore will not play again this season – maybe for the club – after he refused to sit on the bench against Bournemouth. The defender is now training with the under-21s.
Rafa Benitez has a decision to make at right-back after Daryl Janmaat and Vurnon Anita declared themselves fit for the trip to Villa Park. Anita has been sensational in recent games and must be considered undroppable on current form – but Janmaat is the preferred right-back. A tough call for Rafa who will settle for nothing less than a win. No return for Fabricio Coloccini who has shaken off a calf complaint. However, after more than two-months on the side-lines the skipper lacks fitness and may not play again this season. Newcastle made it four Premier League games unbeaten with a win over Palace but their problems lie away from St James’ Park – just 1-point from a possible 30 on the road – although they have won 2 of their last three at Villa Park
Crystal Palace – vs – Stoke City
Alan Pardew will make a late decision on Yannick Bolasie who is struggling due to sickness ‘we’re waiting on him.’ Meanwhile, the Eagles boss also confirms Mile Jedinak ‘has a slight knock.’ If one, or both players miss out then Palace do have options, although Chung-Yong Lee is unlikely to be considered after he was fined following comments about Pardew in the South Korean Press. Bakary Sako and Joe Ledley are poised to come in. Wilfried Zaha ‘still has a bit of a problem’ which means he’ll miss the remaining league games ‘but he should be fine by the (FA Cup) final’ in a little over two weeks. ‘He is a naturally fit guy. He did the injury before the semi-final. We monitored him afterwards and saw there was a slight tear.’ Sullay Kaikai was excellent during his loan spell at Shrewsbury and young midfielder will be play a part during the run-in: ‘I’m not sure I’ll involve him this weekend, but I will involve him at Southampton. He’s earned that.’ Scott Dann has been passed fit after suffering a knock at Newcastle.
Mark Hughes will check on Bojan Krkic after he took a bang on his foot in training on Thursday: “He probably won’t train tomorrow but we hope he will be OK this weekend.” Bojan was an unused substitute last time out as Hughes made a number of changes to help freshen his side against Sunderland. Peter Crouch and Charlie Adam did well: “I was delighted,” said Hughes who confirms “both are in my thoughts for the game.” Glen Johnson “is training” but this weekend will come too soon for the full-back. He should be ready for the final game “we hope.” Marc Wilson’s domestic campaign is over as he won’t be fit enough to play in either of the two remaining games. However, he should be available for the Republic of Ireland. A decision on Marko Arnautovic will be made closer to kick off while a groin problem continues to hamper Shay Given. Jon Walters is back after minor knee surgery – the Republic of Ireland international played more than half an hour last weekend having missed the last four games.
West Ham United – vs – Swansea City
Slavan Bilic confirms Darren Randolph will start both double game week matches after Adrian picked up an injury last weekend: ‘He felt his calf in the Watford game and it’s a minor injury so he’s out.’ He will ‘probably’ miss the two games and remains a doubt for the final weekend. Manuel Lanzini took a slight knock to the knee at the Hawthorns but the 23-year-old has been passed fit.
Francesco Guidolin confirms he will rest his skipper: ‘Ashley will not play again this season. He has played a lot of games and needs a break.’ Williams has missed just seven matches in five top-flight seasons at the Liberty. Neil Taylor (groin), Gylfi Sigurdsson (shoulder) and Alberto Paloschi (hamstring) are also out for the season but Leroy Fer will return to the squad after missing the win over Liverpool. Jefferson Montero ‘is not 100 per cent’ and the winger will face a late test due to a minor hamstring problem. Andre Ayew will lead the Swansea attack following his two-goals in game week thirty-six which took his Premier League tally into double figures.
AFC Bournemouth – vs – West Brom Albion
Eddie Howe confirms Adam Smith will play no further part this season. The defender has been struggling with a Hernia problem: ‘He has been to see various specialists recently to make sure that he gets the right treatment. We need to make sure he is back fit and ready to play for us at the beginning of next season.’ Sylvain Distin is out with a back problem, otherwise the Cherries are near to a full bill of health. Max Gradel is training and making ‘good progress’ while Callum Wilson will be hoping for his second start since September after playing 79 minutes against Everton.
Tony Pulis ‘might make a few changes’ at Bournemouth on Saturday. ‘We’ll have to wait and see.’ No mention of James Morrison during Fridays’ media briefing but he is hoping to play some part in the season run-in after spending most of the calendar year side-lined. The 29-year-old was forced off during the opening exchanges at Stamford Bridge back in January and hasn’t kicked a ball competitively since. But, Morrison is closing in on a return to action after he came through 45-minutes of a behind-closed-doors friendly unscathed last Tuesday. Pulis has promised to blood some youngsters – Jonathan Leko, Tyler Roberts and Sam Field ‘have been excellent in training recently, it’s great for fans to see their own.’
Leicester City – vs – Everton
Danny Drinkwater and Robert Huth will both miss out this weekend due to suspension. Drinkwater received his marching orders at Old Trafford following two yellow cards while Huth was handed a rather harsh three-match ban for his part in the Fellaini incident (see MUFC preview). ‘The reaction is worse than the provocation,’ said Ranieri. Marcin Wasilewski could partner Wes Morgan in defence. Meanwhile, Matty James is ready and could come in for his first competitive appearance of the season following a serious knee injury. Jamie Vardy will return to the match day squad.
No fresh injury concerns for Everton. Gareth Barry and Seamus Coleman have an ‘outside’ of facing Leicester. A knee ligament injury will keep Gerard Deulofeu side-lined: ‘He is out for the season. He got a knock on his knee. He doesn’t need an operation, it’s a medial ligament grade one tear.’ Phil Jagielka is pencilled in for a return against Norwich on the final day. Ramiro Funes Mori serves the final game of his three-match ban.
Tottenham Hotspur – vs – Southampton
Mauricio Pochettino reveals Nabil Bentaleb is the only injury meaning Toby Alderweireld (knee) and Danny Rose (hamstring) have been passed fit. Mousa Dembele is suspended after he accepted a violent conduct charge. The FA said his ‘eye-gouge’ on Diego Costa is more serious than a normal charge and a three-game ban ‘is clearly insufficient.’ Heung-Min Son will continue to deputise for the suspended Dele Alli.
Southampton have a fully-fit squad after Charlie Austin returned last Sunday. The January signing was named on the bench alongside Jay Rodriguez. Surprisingly, Graziano Pelle missed out even though Ronald Koeman confirmed the Italian was fit. Florin Gardos continues to step up his fitness in the hope that he can make the Romania squad for Euro 2016.
Manchester City – vs – Arsenal
Bacary Sagna will start at right-back for the remainder of the season after Pablo Zabaleta revealed earlier that a grade one calf tear will keep him out for around 21-days. The 31-year-old posted an update via Twitter: ‘Sadly after an MRI scan I can confirm a muscle tear grade 2 in my left calf which is around 3 weeks off’. Vincent Kompany remains hopeful of appearing at Euro 2016 but the full extent of the skipper’s injury won’t be known until he has a full medical examination with the doctor on Monday. His injury-plagued season continues after he limped off with a groin issue after just ten minutes at the Bernabéu. David Silva (hamstring) is ruled out and Gael Clichy will deputise for the injured Aleksandar Kolarov.
A hamstring strain has side-lined Per Mertesacker for the remaining two matches which means Gabriel will partner Laurent Koscielny in the heart of the Gunners defence. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain suffered a setback in training on Monday and the winger will miss Euro 2016. ‘There is no chance,’ said Arsène Wenger. ‘He will be back at the beginning of July.’ Santi Cazorla came through an hour long workout for the development side on Tuesday. The Spanish playmaker will be hoping for his first competitive minutes since rupturing knee ligaments back in November.
Liverpool – vs – Watford
With games coming thick and fast, Jürgen Klopp confirms ‘there will be a few changes’ but the German will not allow his side to ‘play below our level in two league games in a row.’ Those players rested on Thursday night are expected to come into the starting XI. That includes the unfortunate Joe Allen who lost his place to the returning Emre Can. Daniel Sturridge ‘is playing at the highest level’ but after completing 90-minutes twice this week, the striker could make way for Christian Benteke who grabbed his 50th Premier League goal at the Liberty last weekend. Jordan Henderson and Divock Origi are targeting a return in the Europa League final: ‘I could see in his eyes that he thinks he has a chance,’ Klopp said. ‘Same with Origi.’ Danny Ings is back in full training ‘but with all these fit players it makes sense to wait.’ Mamadou Sakho has had his 30-day ban extended worldwide by FIFA after the defender admitted an anti-doping violation.
Valon Behrami will play no part in his sides’ remaining three fixtures after sustaining a rib injury in training last week. ‘We don’t want to risk him,’ ahead of the Euros revealed Quique Flores. Etienne Capoue is also ‘finished’ for the remainder of the campaign. The summer acquisition from Tottenham sustained a knee injury during the FA Cup semi-final loss to Crystal Palace. His absence could see Mario Suarez nail down a place in the starting XI. Jose Jurado is likely to make way for Nordin Amrabat after he was disciplined for his reaction to being replaced against Villa. ‘He knows it’s not the way. I don’t like. Football is a collective, is a group, it is (about) respect.’ Joel Ekstrand and Tommie Hoban have been involved for the Under-21s although neither is expected to play for the first-team.
