Premier League Injuries: Sunderland without Fletcher

 

Steven Fletcher, Theo Walcott and Davide Santon will all be big misses for their respective clubs this weekend...

 

Steven Fletcher - Sunderland v Man United (Saturday, 12:45, Sky Sports 2)

This looks set to be one of the darkest weeks in a resolutely dim season on Wearside as Sunderland announced striker Steven Fletcher and skipper Lee Cattermole are out for the remainder of the season. While Cattermole's absence has been a regular theme for Martin O'Neill's strugglers to deal with during this campaign, the prospect of losing their main goal threat with the risk of relegation looming large is altogether more damaging. Without the Scotsman's 11 goals this season, Sunderland would be bottom of the league. Now the Black Cats face the champions elect, Man United, whom they've only scored once against in their last six meetings, which include three blanks at home.

Recommended Bet: Back Man United to win to nil @ 2.48

 

Theo Walcott - Arsenal v Reading (Saturday, 15:00)

Another top scorer ruled out, for this game at least is Arsenal's Theo Walcott, who had to withdraw from England duties due to a tear in a pelvic muscle. However, after hitting a rich vein in late January, where he scored in four successive appearances, Walcott's drought now extends to eight games without an Arsenal goal in all competitions. It's undoubtedly a big blow for the Gunners, who were staging somewhat of a mini revival after a torrid few weeks in which they got hammered at home by Bayern, embarrassed by Blackburn and toppled by Tottenham. Still, the door may just open for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to get his chance after an impressive scoring display for England against San Marino.

Recommended Bet: Back Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to score @ 3.75

 

Davide Santon - Man City v Newcastle, (Saturday, 15:00)

You have to feel slightly for Alan Pardew, unless of course you're a Sunderland fan, with defensive injuries stacking up like waffles in an American breakfast buffet. His young French left-back Massadio Haidara was poleaxed by Wigan's Callum McManaman, who escaped without punishment, and yet more frustratingly for Pardew, Haidara hadn't even been on the field for 15 minutes since replacing injured compatriot Mathieu Debuchy, himself hauled off after just 13. Now, to compound matters, yet another full back, Davide Santon, has been injured on Italy U21s duty, meaning Newcastle must travel to the Etihad without all three players, as well as missing first choice keeper Tim Krul and centre back Fabricio Coloccini. It promises to be a really patched up defence which faces the champions.

Recommended Bet: Back Man City to score three or more goals @ 3.4

 

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