Baines remains a doubt for City

Lyndon Lloyd , 30 November, 14comments | Jump to most recent

Updated David Moyes says that while Leighton Baines will be "given every chance" to prove his fitness for tomorrow's clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, the defender remains doubtful to play.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the manager said that he didn't expect any of his injured players to return this weekend. That might mean Kevin Mirallas and Seamus Coleman missing out for another week, though the former has now returned to training.

Baines, meanwhile, could also be forced to sit this one out after suffering a slight hamstring strain against Arsenal on Wednesday night. Moyes confirmed that he is "a big doubt" for tomorrow.

There is also cause for concern over Darron Gibson whom Moyes revealed is at risk for a re-occurence of his thigh problems due to a bone growth around his tendon.

"He's going to have an ongoing problem because he's got a bit of a growth into a tendon in his thigh, where there's a bit of bone growing" Moyes said. "All we can hope is that it doesn't reoccur.

"We played him probably a little bit longer than we wanted to but we needed it the other night.

"We just hope he can recover quickly for the next game."

Reader Comments (14)

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Brian Murray
1 Posted 30/11/2012 at 18:17:51

No Baines or Mirallas... I hope Manchester is under 6 foot of snow tomorrow! :-D

Paul Ellam
2 Posted 30/11/2012 at 19:07:49

After the recent disappointing results I have a funny feeling we will get a sneaky win — that's how football works! Haha.

Andy Morden
3 Posted 30/11/2012 at 19:29:02

I'm not clear what Moyes is getting at about Gibson there. Is he saying he has a problem for the medium term, or it is going to be a career long issue? If the latter, it may explain why we got him so cheap!

Ian Bennett
4 Posted 30/11/2012 at 19:50:31

I guess it depends on how easy you can get at it to clean it up, how many times it's happened and when/if it needs an op. Jags played with a broken toe for an age.

Eamon Forgione
5 Posted 30/11/2012 at 20:04:01

These injury problems never end!

David Price
6 Posted 30/11/2012 at 20:05:48

Brian, no snow but it's in thick fog tonight, alas a day too soon methinks.

Tony Dove
7 Posted 30/11/2012 at 22:27:56

City want to offload Joleon Lescott. It's a no-brainer.

Sam Hoare
8 Posted 30/11/2012 at 22:58:36

Without Baines, Gibson and Mirallas we are a significantly poorer team.

Edward Simpson
9 Posted 01/12/2012 at 03:04:08

We'll cope, we should have Baines and Mirallas back by next week.
Let's hope that Gibson's problem isn't serious.

Gavin Ramejkis
10 Posted 01/12/2012 at 08:14:36

We have some cover for Baines in Oviedo or Distin (admittedly different quality) but have no cover for Mirallas (Naismith isn't half the player he is) always worry Gisbon breaks an eyelash and disappears for another nine games is he made out of tissue paper? More importantly how the hell do you miss a bone growth in a medical as bone doesn't grow by the inch over weeks???

Sam Higgins
11 Posted 01/12/2012 at 09:48:48

As far as I can see the season is done and dusted. It was only a matter of time before baines broke down considering he runs the fucking show week in week out. Gibson is clearly a fucking Darren Anderton so we can forget about him. If we get anything today it will be a miracle but then it would not have mattered if we had picked up 11 lost points since the villa game

Phil Sammon
12 Posted 01/12/2012 at 10:12:25

Sam's right, why bother even showing up?

Jeez, what numb 'un.

John Crawley
13 Posted 01/12/2012 at 11:50:28

Oviedo can do a job at left back. With regard to Mirallas I think Moyes should give Barkley a go on the right hand side of midfield instead of Naismith as he offers little in that position.

Kevin Tully
14 Posted 01/12/2012 at 13:14:15

Amazed to hear Baines is the top chance creator in all the major Leagues in Europe.

I think he has made something like 53 goalscoring chances - not too shabby for a left back !!!

If Fellaini is being touted as a £30m player, Baines is certainly worth as much, if not more.

If he is not fit today, let's hope he is back for Spurs.

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