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Sky Sports | Football | Premier League | News | Sunderland send Welbeck for op

Skysports.com understands that Danny Welbeck is set to have an exploratory operation on his troublesome knee injury on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury which kept him out of Sunday's Wear-Tyne derby.

However, he has been troubled by a knee complaint for some time and the club have decided to act now to get to the root of the problem.

So for the immediate future, we're likely to see Gyan as a lone striker. But that opens a midfield spot for someone. Steed Malbranque has already claimed a spot and Zenden seems to be in Bruce's good graces.

But might we see a return of Big Fat (and blog favorite) Andy Reid? He has been recalled from loan at Sheffield United, played in the FA Cup loss to Notts County and was on the bench at the weekend. Surely a midfield five of Reid, Richardson, Henderson, Cattermole, and Malbranque (with Zenden the first player off the bench) offers plenty of options for Sunderland.

If Reid does return, and with David Bentley starting again at Birmingham, our midfields might have a distinctly retro vibe to them soon.

UPDATE: Wellbeck out for Six to Eight Weeks

[Steve] Bruce said: "Danny was operated on yesterday and it was confirmed he had a torn cartilage and he will be [out for] six to eight weeks."

Asamoah Gyan Doubtful For Liverpool Clash

Back to the drawing board.

Asamoah Gyan Doubtful For Liverpool Clash | Football/Soccer | Peacefmonline.com

Asamoah Gyan is a doubt for their English Premier League trip to Liverpool this Saturday.

Gyan scored on Tuesday night in the Black Cats 1-2 home defeat to West Ham to crash out of the Carling Cup but limped out on the hour mark...

“The most upsetting thing of the evening is that we have two or three players with soft tissue injuries and they’re struggling for Saturday,” Sunderland manager Bruce said.

“Kieran’s done his hamstring and we’ll see how bad it is. Ferdinand has a hamstring too. Gyan got a knock to his ribs and has hurt his hamstring. It’s very disappointing.”

It will be interesting to see if Bruce rushes Andy Reid back to the starting line-up after his cameo at the end of the Arsenal match. Also, does this derail McCartney's loan to Leeds? Or do we see Angeleri in the Premier League for the first time?

Season Preview: Sunderland

Overall Outlook - In contrast to Stoke who doesn't spend a lot of money but gets a lot from everything they do spend and every player on the roster, Sunderland seem to be forever spending a lot of money on players who have bigger names than games. For every Darren Bent who does well after a big money move there are two Gordon/ Richardson/ Campbell/ Bardsley/ Ferdinand-type players who have come in with big reputations from bigger clubs and shown why those big clubs were willing to sell.  The squad is currently a little bit light on strikers with the real possibility that they will become lighter-still with Kenwyne Jones set to leave for Stoke with no obvious replacement coming in.

Reid to see specialist

Reid to see specialist

Sunderland's Andy Reid is to a visit a specialist after suffering a setback in his return from injury.

The Irishman has picked up an Achilles complaint and will seek medical advice before stepping up his pre-season plans.

Also,

Lee Cattermole is also nursing a knock.

The combative midfielder was forced out of Saturday's 1-0 victory over Darlington with a groin strain and he too will be assessed on Monday before being freed for training duties.

Well, we won't have BFAR to pick at the beginning of the season. And further back, Sunderland have now lost both Cana and Cattermole - who just can't stay healthy. Riveros will start, but alongside whom? Jordan Henderson, with Malbranque left and Campbell right?

Cats Andy's injury agony

SUNDERLAND star Andy Reid could miss most of January with the hamstring strain he picked up in the Boxing Day game against Everton.

The Republic of Ireland international limped off at the end of the 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light and tests have shown that the muscle strain needs to be given weeks to recover.

"Andy's got a grade two tear," boss Steve Bruce revealed.  "And when you've got one like that, you're usally looking at a minimum of three weeks."

This is a huge blow to Sunderland, who can ill afford to lose him after a poor run of form.  Jordan Henderson may be one option for fantasy managers.  He's still under 7 and took the one corner and one free kick that Sunderland earned against Rovers.  Another, cheaper option may be Bolo Zenden at 4.62.  He's struggling with his own hamstring injury (he's not in today's FA Cup lineup), but if he's back he may be given a chance by Bruce. 

Sunderland next face Bolton so pick them for this one, then sell before @Chelsea and @Everton.  We'll see if Reid is back, and less pricey, for Stoke, Wigan and @Pompey.

How did you do?

This is becoming a familiar sight again in the English Premier League.

How did you do this weekend? We're only halfway through the week - hence the Monday Morning Manager's reticence to say too much just yet - but there were lots of points to be had this weekend. Did you get them?

I got points from Birmingham City's offense, but couldn't afford the real bonanza from their D. Rooney disappointed but still pulled in some points, while Spurs just disappointed. For all the talk of the teams with two home games, only 1 - Birminham City again - actually won. Crazy!

So far my team is shaping up as such:

Reina -2 (boooooo!)
Vermaelan 7 (from what, I don't know)
Bassong 3.5 (about what you'd expect from a Spurs defender)
Jordan 2 (was hoping for more from this, Burnley's easier fixture)
Eagles 13.5 (woohoo!  a nice surprise from a player who wasn't much more than an enabler at 6 and change)
Reid 15 (another nice return)
Kranjcar 2.5 (next to Reina the disappointment of the week)
Bowyer 24.5 (gold, Jerry)
Drogba 26 (high-scorer for me and if he keeps alternating braces with anonymous performances... well, we'll still miss him in January)
Rooney 8.5 (see Vermaelan)
Benitez 17 (another surprise total from an enabling player - also 6 and change)

Yours?

Late Fitness Test

Ok... let's head around the country and around the league and look at the matches this weekend. Along the way I'll try to justify explain my team selection. Hopefully we can spark some thought and maybe a little debate.... after the jump.

Monday Morning Manager

Gallagher, Andrews, Nelsen and Robinson before the match.

Counting the cost of Friday's trades, after the jump.

Fantasy Injury Focus - Arsenal

The great entertainers, and the great source of fantasy points over the years.  Also, a great source of injury frustration as year after year players come in and disappear into the training room only to reappear briefly and inevitably too early, finding themselves injured all over again.

The latest blow is of course Robin van Persie being ruled out for two months with ankle ligament damage. But that's by no means the extent of Arsenal's woes. They were already missing Bendtner, Walcott, Vela, Djourou, Clichy, Denilson and added Diaby (calf) and Gibbs (foot or ankle, depending on who you read) to the list after their latest international commitments. And Arsenal have only just gotten Rosicky and Nasri back from their long-term injuries.

So what can we expect from Arsenal against Sunderland? Wenger is very stubborn when it comes to formations. He stuck with 4-4-2 forever, and will likely use his new 4-3-3 regardless of who is available to play. Almunia is entrenched in goal again. The back four likely is Sagna - Vermaelan - Gallas - Silvestre, though another option would be to bring Senderos into the center of defence and move Gallas to left back where he has been unhappy, but very effective for Arsenal and Chelsea before that.

The midfield three will likely be Cesc playing in front of Song and Nasri with Nasri replacing Diaby and having more license to get forward. Ramsey would also be an option, having played really well against Wolves. The front three would seemingly have to be Arshavin - Eduardo - Rosicky.

Eboue is a wildcard in all of this. He would give the squad more balance as Nari, Rosicky, Eduardo and Arsahvin all favor the left if they can't play through the middle. Maybe, just maybe, Wenger does go back to the 4-4-2 with Rosicky and Eboue on the wings and Arshavin and Eduardo pushed up front together.

However they line-up, Sunderland probably won't have to face a barage of crosses or long punts into the box. This will be a diminutive team with Song the long 6-footer. Arsenal may win tons of corner kicks, but I would be stunned if they were to convert any of them. Expect lots of CWs, but very few SCs.  On the other hand, Reid may have a big day if he gets the chance to aim crosses at Bent and Jones (and Turner et al coming up from the back).

Monday Morning Manager

Good week for me -- great Saturday then gave most of it back on Sunday. 107 points with five 2-gamers. Not that I'm expecting much from them.  More on that after the jump.

Where were we?

Ah, yes...

It's hard to come back from international break. But re-focus we must. So to get us all up to speed - and yes, there are games today so no due dilligence can start in earnest until tomorrow - let's look at my O'Hara issue. ;-)

I have O'Hara at 4.23 and he's averaging 5 points per match. However, he's ineligible to play against Spurs this weekend and he's being played in a more withdrawn role in the midfield. So naturally I'm desperate to sell. But 4.23 doesn't get you very far. Good news then that Rooney is a doubt for the Bolton match. Well, maybe not as he's expected to train with United this week. But still, the door is open! So between Rooney and O'Hara I have 22.77 to spend. What are my options?

• Keep the both. Maybe not the worst idea ever. Take the hit this week but know that points are coming.
• Keep Rooney and sell O'Hara for Kightly.  I like this option because I feel like I would be buying low on Kightly.  Surely his playing time will only increase and last week's -2 will be seen as an anomoly.
• Blow them both up and replace them with two mid-priced players with good match-ups this week.  This is the fun option because of how wide open it is.  Who might those options be?  Let's take a look.
  
  At forward:
  
  • Saha  - home to a poor-traveling Wolves team.
  • Diamanti - West Ham aren't in good form, but Diamanti is taking kicks and getting points regardless.
  • Bellamy - Robinho not back yet, and Bellamy's form would probably keep him out of the side anyway.  At up-and-down Wigan.
    
  • Defoe - wait for word on his hand injury and thus his prospects to start, but playing at another of his old clubs he'll want to get on the scoresheet.
  • A.Johnson - home to Hull. 'nuff said.
    
  
  At middie:
  
  • Benayoun - If Gerrard is hurt, Benny is Liverpool's most creative player and even @Sunderland, there could be goals.
  • Giggs - bit of a reach in price, but rested he should star against Bolton.  Especially if Rooney is limited.
  • Geovanni - much like last season, he's at the heart of whatever Hull do (and yes, that's damning with faint praise).
  • Lennon - @Pompey
  • Osman or Cahill - @Wolves
  • Andy Reid - facing Liverpool, but taking kicks for Sunderland and averaging 10 points per match.
  • Dunn - home to Burnley, though this is a local derby so it takes a bit of the shine off
  • Gera or Duff - home to Hull. 'nuff said.  Well one more thing, Dempsey is injured so they're more assured spots.
    

Honestly, I'm at a loss right now. Anyone have any thoughts?