Picking a Best Premier League Injured XI

Christopher Atkins@@chris_elasticoX.com LogoContributor INovember 26, 2014

Picking a Best Premier League Injured XI

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    Following the injuries to both Jack Wilshere and Wojciech Szczesny in last weekend's clash between Arsenal and Manchester United, combined with the Red Devils' own extensive absentee list, injuries are a hot topic in English football.

    Indeed, it would seem several sides normally challenging at the top of the league are suffering from considerable injury burdens at present.

    As a means of demonstrating the quality of players currently sidelined in the Premier League, Bleacher Report have set about picking a best XI of currently injured Premier League players.

    Who, then, makes the cut?

GK: Wojciech Szczesny

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    In goal in our injured best XI is Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny, narrowly pipping another Gunners goalkeeper David Ospina to a starting spot in our side.

    As BBC Sport report, Szczesny was injured in the weekend's defeat to Manchester United after colliding with teammate Kieran Gibbs. He will now miss at least Wednesday night's Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund.

    Arsenal's defensive injury crisis will not be helped by his absence.

DR: Mathieu Debuchy

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    Continuing our Arsenal-based start to the XI is France right-back Mathieu Debuchy who injured his ankle against Manchester City in September, with BBC Sport reporting an expected absence of three months.

    Brought in to replace the departing Bacary Sagna this summer, Debuchy's career in North London has been unable to get going following the injury so early in his spell at the club.

    He will hope to come back sometime in the next month and, with that, get ready to kick-start his career with the Gunners in 2015.

DC: John Stones

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    Carried off against Manchester United in early October, an eight week absence was the prognosis for Everton's John Stones as the Guardian's Andy Hunter reports.

    Stones, who had built himself up to become a regular at Goodison Park, will hope to quickly regain his place and continue to push his claims with England over the rest of the season.

    Injuries, though, can destroy momentum and Stones must endeavour to recapture his former levels quickly.

DC: Marcos Rojo

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    One of Manchester United's many summer recruits, Argentine defender Marcos Rojo struck misfortune earlier this month against rivals City, dislocating a shoulder after an attempted slide tackle.

    The Independent's Ian Herbert reported at the time Rojo could be facing six weeks on the sidelines, yet the Argentine has already returned to some level of training with the United side.

    He may not be out for as long as had been feared, but his absence has been a major concern to United's fragile defence.

DL: Aleksandar Kolarov

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    For Manchester City's Serbian left-back Aleksandar Kolarov, it is a calf issue that is the cause of his current absence, with reports in early November suggesting a month on the sidelines as shown by BBC Sport.

    Having become a key player in the Manuel Pellegrini project at City, his absence has been keenly felt with understudy Gael Clichy failing to offer the same solidity on the left flank.

    Kolarov's absence may not be long term, but it has certainly hindered his side over recent games.

DM: Daley Blind

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    The most recent addition to Manchester United's casualty list was midfielder Daley Blind who was stretchered off with knee ligament damage during last week's international friendlies.

    After some initial confusion, covered here by BBC Sport, United boss Louis van Gaal confirmed his charge will not be sidelined for six months as his own club had tweeted. He couldn't, though, place an exact time on Blind's return.

    Sadly for Van Gaal, his compatriot was starting to become a key figure in the United ranks and this setback will be a major blow to an already weak central midfield area.

CM: Jack Wilshere

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    A third Arsenal player to make our XI is midfielder Jack Wilshere who was taken off against Manchester United last weekend with ankle damage following a clash with defender Paddy McNair.

    Per BBC Sport, while boss Arsene Wenger was unable to say how long the Englishman would be out, he did accept Wilshere will now be sidelined for a few games.

    Wilshere will seek specialist treatment for what is becoming a regular concern with his ankles. With his rough and ready style of play and willingness to dribble encouraging tackles, it is an issue that could stay with him throughout his career.

CM: Sandro

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    Having just begun to show his full potential at QPR, it is a real shame Brazilian Sandro is set for yet more time on the sidelines in the weeks ahead.

    BBC Sport report the former Spurs midfielder will be out until the new year with a knee injury, having been a crucial figure in strong displays against Chelsea and Manchester City.

    Rangers are in desperate need of quality in midfield as they seek to address a poor start to the season but will be hit hard by the loss of their £10 million summer signing.

FW: Jay Rodriguez

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    Yet to play this season, Jay Rodriguez's return to first-team action would appear to be still some way off with the Daily Star's Adrian Kajumba reporting last week he has been told to ease off in his comeback preparations.

    Returning from a major knee injury is never easy, and Rodriguez has been advised he must take his recovery slower after needing fluid drained from the joint.

    On the verge of a place in England's World Cup plans prior to injury, Rodriguez will hope to return to such levels quickly once he returns. However, talk of a transfer in January as has been rumoured would appear premature.

FW: Daniel Sturridge

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    Liverpool supporters could be forgiven for wishing the 2014-15 season could begin again and a good chunk of their woes this year can be attributed to the continued absence of striker Daniel Sturridge.

    The England regular, the club's second top-scorer last season, has been out since September, and it was revealed last week a new thigh injury will keep him out into the new year as covered by BBC Sport.

    Sturridge is no stranger to injury woes, and the Reds could perhaps have done more to anticipate such a problem occurring. To pick up another injury just as he was about to return, though, is terrible luck for all concerned.

FW: Radamel Falcao

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    After a briefly promising start to his Manchester United career, Colombia striker Radamel Falcao has joined the club's extensive injury list over recent weeks and is another to have suffered a setback this week.

    As reported by the Daily Mail's Paul Hirst, he is not expected to return to fitness for another two weeks and his long-term future at Old Trafford is believed to be in doubt.

    With a player of Falcao's quality, though, a run of games could be the required remedy to find his scoring touch and earn an extended spell as part of the United setup with a permanent deal next summer.

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