Arsenal, Newcastle, Manchester United and Sunderland fans will be biting fingernails whilst injury news plays a large subplot to Chelsea and QPR’s meeting this weekend.
As per usual after an international break many clubs have been struck by unwanted injury concerns and complaints, so which players represent the biggest loss to their clubs ahead of races against time to be fit for the weekend’s clashes.
Abou Diaby
Arsenal have injury concerns over Abou Diaby ahead of their fixture with Southampton this weekend. The midfielder who has had a supreme start to the season picked up an injury while with France on international duty and is expected to be in a race to be fit along with Wojciech Szczesny and Theo Walcott . Walcott is still suffering from a virus picked up whilst with England this week.
John Terry
Chelsea’s England withdrawal John Terry is still struggling to get to full fitness ahead of a hotly anticipated game against QPR. It is the first meeting between the clubs since John Terry was cleared of racially abusing The Hoops Anton Ferdinand last season. He is still suffering from an ankle injury picked up against Moldova. Ashley Cole, who testified in favour of JT in said court case, also struggles with an ankle injury ahead of the game. Anton Ferdinand however also faces a late test on a shoulder problem before a potentially explosive matchup.
Shinji Kagawa
The Japanese international pulled out of the game against Iraq this week after suffering from back spasms and faces a race against time to be fit for United’s clash against Wigan. It would be a shame for the player just getting into his groove at Old Trafford to miss the game. Meanwhile hat-trick hero last time out Robin Van Persie limped out of Netherlands 4-1 victory over Hungary with a thigh problem. United fans will be pleased to hear Louis Van Gaal confirming it was nothing serious.
Adam Johnson
After a decent Black Cats debut Adam Johnson would have been looking forward to playing with England against Moldova and Ukraine and continuing his planned renaissance with the Mackems. Unfortunately he may have to watch from the sidelines, a situation he has become frustratingly accustomed to recently after a thigh injury struggles to clear up.
Tim Krul
Pulled out of the Dutch squad to face Hungary earlier in the week, just days after being confirmed the national teams new number one stopper with an elbow complaint. The keeper is rarely injured so Newcastle fans must hope that level of apparent fitness leads him to recover before facing Everton. The Magpies are also sweating on the fitness of Coloccini, Perch and Tiote.
image: © Andrea Sartorati
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