Sergio Aguero fires a hat-trick against 10-man Bayern to keep City’s Champions League dream alive. Chelsea cruise past Schalke with a comprehensive 5-0 win, Laurent Koscielny returns to fitness for Arsenal, Jonny Evans and Sam Vokes step up their injury recoveries, whilst Hull receive some welcome news over Mo Diame’s knee problem.
SERGIO SAVES CITY’S BLUSHES
A Sergio Aguero hat-trick secured a vital 3-2 victory for Man City over Bayern Munich last night to maintain his side’s hopes of qualification in the Champions League. With Yaya Toure suspended and David Silva still sidelined, Manuel Pellegrini opted for a 4-2-3-1 set-up from the off, with Frank Lampard fielded in behind the Aguero, though later brought on Stevan Jovetic alongside the Argentine as his side chased the win.
The Scout Says: Having served up a rare blank against Swansea at the weekend, Aguero’s owners were given something of a scare when the striker missed training with his team-mates on Monday. That proved to be nothing more than a case of Pellegrini affording his starlet some protection, however, and yesterday’s performance marked an immediate return to form for Aguero. Indeed, the former Atletico Madrid man has been lying low in our Captain Poll this week due to the fact that he faces a side in Southampton who have just conceded just once in their last five, but last night’s display will have many thinking twice ahead of the St Mary’s encounter. Meanwhile, Toure’s absence through suspension will ensure that the Ivorian is fully fit for the trip down south, and with a current ownership of just 6.5% and returns in each of his last two appearances, the Ivorian is starting to find his form ahead of City’s kind upcoming schedule (sou, sun, EVE, lei, CPL, wba) and may yet hold some appeal for those willing to splash the cash in midfield.
CHELSEA STROLL PAST SCHALKE
Chelsea booked their spot in the knock-out stages of the Champions League with a comfortable 5-0 win over Roberto Di Matteo’s Schalke last night. John Terry and Willian found themselves on the scoresheet in the first half, with later strikes from substitutes Didier Drogba and Ramires helping seal the victory.
The Scout Says: Jose Mourinho clearly meant business last night and named the same XI that started against West Brom at the weekend. Their comprehensive victory, allied with back-to-back clean sheets in all competitions, indicates that the Blues are starting to gain some serious momentum ahead of a terrific run of fixtures (sun, TOT, new, HUL, sto, WHM). After a slow start to the season, Terry’s goal threat finally came to the fore last night, and the centre back, at 6.3, is starting to suggest he could be a viable alternative to Branislav Ivanovic, who has now blanked in each of the last nine Gameweeks. Meanwhile, Willian’s goal and assist could well see the Brazilian retain his starting berth against Sunderland should Mourinho choose to go on the attack, whilst Diego Costa’s early withdrawal will please his owners ahead of the promising Black Cats encounter.
KOSCIELNY BOOST FOR GUNNERS
Arsene Wenger rolled out an injury update ahead of Arsenal Champions League meeting with Borussia Dortmund this evening. The Arsenal manager confirmed that Laurent Koscielny is back and available after an Achilles injury, though Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Wojciech Szczesny are all absent, whilst he also went on to explain that he failed to register Olivier Giroud for the group stages as the striker was originally expected to be sidelined until he New Year.
The Scout Says: With just three clean sheets to their name all season, Arsenal have been a far cry from the side that served up 17 shut outs last time around. Undoubtedly, Koscielny’s return to fitness will come as a major boost for the Gunners, who, with decent fixtures now ahead (wba, SOU, sto, NEW, liv, QPR) could be set for an improvement in defensive returns. Nacho Monreal looks the most likely to drop out for the Frenchman, though Wenger could opt to move him to left back in place of Kieran Gibbs. Meanwhile, the slightly unconventional news surrounding Giroud will potentially strengthen his chances of a start at West Brom on Saturday, with the 8.1-priced striker looking to build on his consolation goal against Man United last time out. This will, however, come as yet another blow for Danny Welbeck’s remaining owners: the forward has already been sold by 20,000 Fantasy managers this weeks as Giroud’s return to action places major questions over his pitch time.
VOKES STEPS UP RECOVERY
Burnley’s Sam Vokes managed a 45 minute run-out for the Clarets’ reserves yesterday. The striker was immediately amongst the goals and earned the praise of manager Sean Dyche as he edges nearer a return to first-team action from the knee injury that has kept him on the sidelines since March:
“It’s his first real step on the way back and he’s been training with us and growing in confidence as well as feeling good. The next stage of that was obviously playing in a reserve game and he’s done that today and got 45 minutes under his belt. It’s another positive step for him but we won’t rush him back as we want him to come back fit once – fully ready.”
The Scout Says: Vokes’ partnership with Danny Ings was instrumental in Burnley’s promotion from the Championship last year. The duo struck up a prolific understanding, notching 20 goals apiece for the Lancashire outfit, and there’s no doubt their link-up play in the final third has been sorely missed. With three goals in his last four, Ings is starting to acclimatise to the Premier League and yesterday’s news will strengthen Dyche’s hopes of beating the drop. A handful of sub appearances look likely over the next few weeks, though, as Vokes builds up his fitness after such a serious lay-off.
DIAME RELIEF FOR TIGERS
Scans on the knee problem that forced Hull’s Mo Diame to miss side’s encounter with on Sunday have revealed that it is only a minor concern, and the midfielder is now in contention to face Man United this weekend.
The Scout Says: After a run of four goals in five Gameweeks, Diame has now failed to score in each of his last three appearances, though still looks an influential figure in Steve Bruce’s side. The Senegal international has been perfectly suited to playing in an advanced central role in a 3-5-2, delivering the sort of attacking threat he had rarely touched upon in seasons gone by, but with the fixtures turning tough for the Tigers (mnu, eve, WBA, che), Bruce could decide to go with a lone striker for the next few Gameweeks and field Diame in a more withdrawn role. Should that be the case, the midfielder is unlikely to climb our Watchlist until the fixtures take a turn for the better.
UNITED STARS FEATURE IN RESERVES ROUT
Jonny Evans, Adnan Januzaj and Ander Herrera all started for Man United’s reserve side yesterday, who convincingly overcame Blackburn 5-0. Herrera played the full 90 minutes and was on the scoresheet, whilst Evans lasted until the 64th minute, as both step up their comebacks from injury.
The Scout Says: Dropped against Arsenal on Saturday, Januzaj’s inclusion for the reserves suggests he’s firmly back to bench-warming duties for the time being, despite starting four consecutive matches between Gameweeks 8-11. Evans and Herrera, meanwhile, will now both be pushing for starts at home to Hull at the weekend: the Spaniard is certainly in with a chance of returning to the first XI should Louis van Gaal keep with a 3-4-1-2 formation, whilst Evans’ return to full fitness would likely see Patrick McNair relegated to the bench to make way for his fellow Northern Irishman.
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