Fantasy Premier League

Fri Jan 25 04:04PM by Neal Thurman and Jeremy Spitzberg

What a frustrating week.  Since Villa and Rovers play on Saturday lockdown happens well in advance of most of the matches.  We can learn a little bit from the FA Cup injury reports but who knows what is going to happen between now and when the Premier League matches actually happen.  As Jeremy so aptly pointed out, Duff and Owen could both pull hamstrings or tweak their knees coming out of the tunnel at the Emirates on the weekend and be ruled out for the mid-week return. 

Looks like Senderos will be available for Arsenal so if you have him for a good price, it looks good for keeping him.

Gareth Barry doesn't look like he's going to make it back for the Rovers match.  Not much impact but I'm struggling for something to write here so I'm trying to get everything I can out of the one injury report available.

Looks like Heskey will be back for Wigan by midweek... Ballack is a question mark for Chelsea... Mpenza looks to be back for Citeh and may offer an option if Bianchi does leave... Arbeloa is ruled out of the weekend matches with an injury.

Sorry, I wish there were more to go on, but there really isn't much.  Time to pick and pray.

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[Jeremy adds:] 

"The Premier League might be (almost) on hold until next midweek, but you have to settle on your line-up by midday Saturday."

And with a glut of FA Cup fixtures muddying the waters further, it promises to be a tough week for Fantasy managers."

So sayeth our "Choose 'em or lose 'em?" columnist. 

Not only that, but transfer rumours are starting to hot up meaning players may be on new teams by the time they play on Tues or Wed. Nothing to do but soldier on and make your best guesses. In addition to Neal's pointers above, here are the latest injury, suspension and transfer reports in an ultimately fruitless attempt to inform your decisions.

1. Fantasy: Choose 'em or lose 'em?
2. Team news: Villa v Blackburn
3. Carson back for clash with Rovers
4. Voronin Out For Six Weeks
5. Duo missing for Havant cup clash
6. Butt and Smith back for Magpies
7. Richards misses Blades clash
8. Chimbonda banned for cup clash
9. Chimbonda: I'm Going To Toon
10. Scholes could make United return
11. Spurs can speak to Woodgate
12. Ballack doubtful for JJB cup clash
13. Latic Landzaat Joins Feyenoord
14. King Close To Wigan Switch
15. Heskey fit to face Chelsea
16. Jewell to field strong Rams side
17. Rovers missing Ryan at Villa
18. Pompey pair back to face Pilgrims
19. Duo in line to return for Gunners
20. Mido back as Boro hunt Stags

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