Round-up: Chelsea trio out, Willian scan, Barkley to play, QPR injury woe, midfielder moves on
Thibaut Courtois and Alvaro Morata will remain sidelined for Chelsea’s FA Cup fourth-round game against Newcastle and Willian is also out, but Cesc Fabregas has returned to training and could be available.
Morata is still struggling with a back problem and keeper Courtois is recovering from an ankle knock.
Willian went off with a hamstring injury during the first half of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat at Arsenal.
Fabregas missed that game but is scheduled to have a fitness test ahead of the cup tie and could be involved.
Willian set for scan
Willian is set to undergo a scan on his injured hamstring.
Chelsea do not believe their player’s injury is serious, but he will not be available for Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Newcastle.
Boss Antonio Conte explained: “Today he was with the doctor with the intention to have a scan to evaluate his injury, but I don’t think we are talking about a serious injury.”
Barkley set to feature
Conte says Chelsea’s injury worries have made it all the more important that Ross Barkley quickly regains his fitness.
The midfielder, signed from Everton earlier this month, had hamstring surgery last year.
But despite only recently returning to full training, the England international was brought on against Arsenal because of Willian’s injury.
Conte has strongly hinted Barkley will play against Newcastle.
The Italian said: “If you want to accelerate the process, he [Barkley] has to play, not just a training session – especially in this moment with Willian and Alvaro Morata injuries as we don’t have other options.
“After a bad injury you need a bit of time to be fit 100%.”
Wenger not ruling out Giroud exit as Blues are linked
Arsene Wenger says he wants Olivier Giroud to stay at Arsenal and would only let him go if the club sign another striker.
Reports say Chelsea are interested in the French forward.
Gunners boss Wenger did not answer the question of whether Chelsea have made an approach for Giroud when he was asked at a media conference on Friday morning.
But Wenger did say: “I want Olivier to stay. If nobody comes in then nobody goes out.”
Arsenal, who recently sold Theo Walcott to Everton, are keen to buy Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
It appears that might pave the way for Giroud to leave the Emirates Stadium, where he is not currently a first-team regular.
Asked if Giroud had requested a move, Wenger said: “No. I have constant exchanges with Giroud and we speak about the situation.
“He has played many games, scored important goals and he is an important player.
“Everyone wants him to stay and has high respect for him. He could only leave if someone comes in (to Arsenal).
“We lost Theo Walcott and to lose Olivier without someone coming in would be too many.”
QPR injuries
QPR striker Idrissa Sylla could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a torn calf.
Rangers are assessing the extent of the injury, which will certainly keep Sylla out of Saturday’s game at Bristol City.
Grant Hall and Paul Smyth have also been ruled out of the trip to Ashton Gate.
Hall has been troubled by a persistent knee injury and is now nursing a problem with the other knee.
Rangers say the problem is not serious and that Hall is being left out as a precaution.
Borysiuk completes move
Lechia Gdańsk have confirmed they have re-signed Ariel Borysiuk following his release by QPR.
West London Sport recently revealed that Borysiuk, 26, was set to return to his native Poland, with Lechia and another of his former clubs, Legia Warsaw, having been made aware of his availability.
Rangers subsequently announced that his contract at Loftus Road had been terminated by mutual consent.
Borysiuk has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at Lechia, where he started his career and ended last season on loan after failing to impress Rangers manager Ian Holloway.
West Ham interested in Cairney
West Ham have made an enquiry about Fulham’s Tom Cairney.
West Bromwich Albion recently also expressed an interest in the Scotland international, but Fulham have so far received no formal bids.
