Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Fitness doubts on four Albion stars
Monday 9th August 2010, 11:50AM BST.
Graham Dorrans
Albion have suffered a major four-pronged fitness scare ahead of the Premier League kick-off at Chelsea with Graham Dorrans a serious injury doubt.
Midfield talisman Dorrans is rated at 50-50 to recover from a groin strain in time for Saturday’s trip to Stamford Bridge.
Defensive trio Pablo, Gabriel Tamas and Marek Cech are also being monitored as the Baggies begin the final countdown to their top-flight return, although Tamas was today deemed fit enough to link up with the Romania squad.
Dorrans was forced to leave the field 71 minutes into Saturday’s final pre-season match against Osasuna, with a recurrence of the sore groin that forced him out of the friendly at Doncaster.
A weekend scan has diagnosed a minor strain, leaving the Scotland international facing a race against time to face last season’s double winners.
Dorrans has linked up with Scotland for their midweek friendly with Sweden as new coach Craig Levein wants his entire squad together ahead of his second game in charge.
But the midfielder is expected to return to Albion for treatment in the next 48 hours as the fit Scotland players, including Baggies midfielder James Morrison, fly to Stockholm.
Meanwhile, Albion medics will monitor Pablo, Tamas and Cech over the next two days to assess their chances of facing Chelsea.
Head coach Roberto Di Matteo said: “We’ve got a few problems. We will have to assess them all.”
Tamas was one of seven Albion players heading away on international duty today – a hint that his injury was not as serious as first feared.
Striker Roman Bednar is in line to make his international comeback, after being included in the Czech Republic squad to face Latvia in Liberec on Wednesday.
Abdoulaye Meite has earned a recall to the Ivory Coast squad to take on Italy at Upton Park tomorrow.
Tamas’ Romania face a trip to Istanbul to face Turkey on Wednesday, the same day on which Chris Brunt will play for Northern Ireland against Montenegro in Podgorica and Boaz Myhill for Wales against Luxembourg in Llanelli.
Sponsored Links
UK Sport
Latest Blog — Microsoft Comes to the University of Wolverhampton
Last week Microsoft visited the University of Wolverhampton to give students the chance to develop their own phone apps that could be published on the Windows Phone Marketplace.
Technology blog
Business Awards
Read the full story here
Full coverage of awards celebrating the region's best businesses.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
LIVE traffic updates
Road, rail and airport - latest
Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Which barmy sod fixed these Internationals so close to the Prem kick-off ? YAMPY !
Report abuse
Obviously quite a blow but he’s young so could be back in as he rarely lets a small injury get in his way.
I think maybe a slightly more cautious and defensive midfield might suit the team we are playing.
Report abuse
The international fixtures actually work in our favour as it happens so I’m all for it.
Report abuse
It doesn’t really matter in all fairness. The Chelski result is inevitable, as long as we have a full squad for Sunderland is what’s important.
Report abuse
Mmm. How often do players pull a fast one to avoid a friendly. Let’s hope it’s not too serious but I would suspect Villa have bigger problems than us right now.
O’Neil resigns – has he got a job on the Champions League Sofa.
Report abuse
3.astle. Explain mate why they benefit us. I won’t pretend I have a clue. I would have thought playing Internationals with the travelling was the last thing our boss wanted.
I heard on Saturday TV that Sir Alex was making this his last season. Then Mar’in O’Neill resigns from Villa days before the season starts. I’m mildly suspicious. The only good thing to come out of his resignation is that we shan’t have to listen to local radio sports people saying Mar’in. I know Savenners and some Norvenners use the glottal ‘t’, but Midlanders don’t. (or didn’t until folks all became East Enders). Bring back the Black Country dialect.
Report abuse