Fantasy Football NEWS

Friday Feature

Published by Robert Nolan on March 21, 2009

Blackburn v West Ham, 15:00
15th placed Blackburn hope to welcome back Vince Grella and Ryan Nelson to their squad after injury. Gael Givet took a knock to his knee in last week’s defeat at Arsenal but should be fit to play. Roque Santa Cruz will miss this game but should return for Rovers’ next fixture in 2 weeks time, whilst Brett Emerton and Stephen Reid remain long-term absentees.
West Ham are not without injury worries of their own. There’s a slight chance that James Collins will return in defence after returning to training, but the Hammers will not be able to call upon Dean Ashton, Valon Behrami, James Collison, Kieron Dyer and Danny Gabbidon. Matthew Upson is a doubt after picking up a claf injury in the 0-0 draw with West Brom on Monday night, while Carlton Cole serves the last game of a two-match ban.
Man to watch : Jason Roberts (Blackburn).

Fulham v Man Utd, 15:00
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has no new injury concerns as his side welcome league leaders Manchester United to Craven Cottage. Giles Barnes is unlikely to feature though as he still lacks match fitness.
United could welcome back full back Rafael da Silva after an ankle injury. Nemanja Vidic will miss the game through suspension after his sending off against Liverpool last weekend, while Owen Hargreaves is a long-term absentee.
Man to watch: Ji-Sung Park (Man Utd).

Newcastle v Arsenal, 17:30
Newcastle and injury problems go hand in hand, and this week is no exception. However, Joey Barton, Danny Guthrie, Hebib Beye and Xisco could return after injury lay offs, although it’s doubtful all 4 will feature. Mark Viduka is definitely ruled out with an achilles problem.
Arsenal have been rattled by news that Theo Walcott will be missing for some weeks. He locked his knee returning to the dressing room after training on Friday and will not feature in this fixture nor for the England Under-21s next week. Manuel Almunia should reclaim his place in goal, while Emmanuel Adebayor, Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky are once again missing but all three approaching comebacks. Eduardo is also likely to miss out.
Man to watch: Samir Nasri (Arsenal).

Portsmouth v Everton, 12:45
Jermaine Pennant will be missing from the Portsmouth line-up to face Everton. The winger, on loan from Liverpool, is expected to missing for another three weeks with a calf injury. Pele and Djimi Traore might be considered for comebacks after injury although neither should be expected to start the game. Papa Bouba Diop is still out with a knee injury.
Tim Cahill should be fit to play after an injury picked up in the Toffee’s last fixture against Stoke. Nuno Valente may also be fit to take a place on the bench. But David Moyes is still without a long list of players with with long-term layoffs. Victor Anichebe, Mikel Arteta, Tony Hibbert, James Vaughan, Yakubu and Joseph Yobo are all ruled out.
Man to watch: Louis Saha (Everton).

Stoke v Middlesbrough, 15:00
Stoke have injury doubts over winger Matthew Etherington and striker Ricardo Fuller. Stephen Kelly could be set to return to the fray after a hamstring injury picked up last month, but otherwise Tony Pulis has no other concerns over his squad.
Middlesbrough should welcome back Justin Hoyte after a groin injury. Emanuel Pogatetz picked up a knee injury against Portsmouth last week but looks set to feature in defence. Matthew Bates is missing through suspension while Chris Riggott and Didier Digard will miss out due to knee injuries.
Man to watch: Ryan Shawcross (Stoke).

Tottenham v Chelsea, 15:00
Spurs could be able to call upon the services of Alan Hutton again after a long lay-off. However Harry Redknapp will again be without striker Jermain Defoe.
Chelsea may have to do without powerful centre forward Didier Drogba after he sustained a knee injury against Manchester City. Deco was also injured in that game and will miss out aginst Tottenham, along with long-term absentees Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira.
Man to watch: Michael Ballack (Chelsea).

West Brom v Bolton, 15:00
Bottom club West Brom really need to start winning, and they may see a clash against fellow strugglers Bolton as an opportunity to pick up 3 important points. But they will have to acheive that without Leon Barnett, Neil Clement, Abdoulaye Meite and Ishmael Miller who are all ruled out through injury.
Bolton will still be missing Joey O’Brien and Ricardo Vaz Te with knee injuries, and Mark Davies has joined them in the treatment room after picking up a knee injury against Fulham last week.
Man to watch: Chris Brunt (West Brom).

Sunday, 22 March 2009

Liverpool v Aston Villa, 16:00
Liverpool should be buzzing after an emphatic victory at Old Trafford last time out. They could be further boosted by the returns of Daniel Agger, Xabi Alonso and Yossi Benayoun to the squad. Alvaro Arbeloa hurt himself during the warm up at Old Trafford and won’t feature, while full back Phillip Degen sustained another injury in his return for the reserves last week.
Aston Villa will be looking to kick-start their push towards a Champions League after fading in recent weeks. Steve Sidwell could return to strengthen their midfield, while Dutch defender Wilfred Bouma could make a long-awaited return to the fold after 8 months out with a dislocated ankle. He returned to play a couple of reserve fixtures but this game may be a bit to soon to see him make his return. Martin Laursen will be missing for another couple of weeks with a knee problem.
Man to watch: Ryan Babel (Liverpool).

Man City v Sunderland, 15:00
Mark Hughes has injury doubts over full back Wayne Bridge, midfielder Nigel de Jong and strikers Craig Bellamy and Daniel Sturridge. Michael Ball may also return to take a place on the bench. Benjani, Dietmar Hamann, Michael Johnson and Martin Petrov are also long-term absentees who continue to miss out.
Sunderland will be missing 4 regular first teamers. Tal Ben Haim is ineligible due to the terms of his loan transfer from City to the Black Cats, while defenders Nyron Nosworthy and Teemu Tainio miss out through injury. Ex-Manchester United midfielder Kieran Richardson sits the game out through suspension.
Man to watch: Kenwyne Jones (Sunderland).

Wigan v Hull, 13:30
Antoine Sibierski could make a return to the Wigan squad to face Hull, but is unlikely to start. Young midfielder Lee Cattermole serves the second game of his four-match ban. Otherwise, Steve Bruce has a fully fit squad to choose from.
The Tigers have 3 players missing with injuries. George Boateng will miss the game but should be fit to return after the international break, while Anthony Gardner and Jimmy Bullard are both ruled out for the rest of the season. Dean Marney serves the final game of his three-match suspension.
Man to watch: Antonio Valencia (Wigan).

Paul Harper – fantasy football guru

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