Kone set to start against Krasnodar

Lyndon Lloyd , 5 December, 15comments | Jump to most recent

On the comeback trail again: Kone will line up against Krasnodar on Thursday.

Arouna Kone will get the opportunity to complete his year-long rehabilitation from serious injury when he starts in the Europa League match against Krasnodar next week.

The 31 year-old had to undergo surgery to repair the meniscus in his knee in November last year and has been out of the first-team picture ever since during what has been an unexpectedly long recovery.

Following months of patient work in the gym at Finch Farm and a facility in Belgium, he was due to play a part in the League Cup tie at Swansea in September but that comeback was aborted when he felt pain in the knee.

Now, having come through his latest test in the U21s' 3-2 win over Sunderland last Monday, he will make his first appearance for the senior team in the Group H dead rubber against the Russian side according to manager Roberto Martinez.

With the Blues and Wolfsburg having already sealed qualification to the knockout phase, Thursday's match is meaningless and, in addition to the Ivorian, Martinez is expected to take the opportunity to field some of his lesser-used players.

Bryan Oviedo is another candidate to feature after playing and scoring alongside Kone for the U21s, while the likes of Joel Robles, Luke Garbutt and Tyias Browning will also be hoping for game time.

Fringe players and young guns set to start

Reader Comments (15)

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Gavin Johnson
1 Posted 05/12/2014 at 23:07:47

I hope Kone takes his chance and will be on the subs bench in the league this side of Xmas. Cos it's looking like we need all the help we can get, going on the last couple of performances.

Trevor Lynes
3 Posted 06/12/2014 at 12:14:52

I would like to see both Oviedo and Kone on the bench for this evening's game. Surely if Alcaraz is a consideration for this match then those two should each be considered. They have had run outs for the Under-21s and both came through well whereas Alcaraz has not played since his injury.

Sam Hoare
5 Posted 07/12/2014 at 15:07:51

What does everyone think of this team for Krasnodar (assuming they are all fit):

Robles
Kenny Browning Alcaraz Garbutt
Besic Ledson
Atsu Barkley Oviedo
Kone

Perhaps Kenny may not be the best right-back; I think Gethin Jones has been playing there for U21s.

An interesting team I think. With some pace and power spread around.

Colin Glassar
6 Posted 07/12/2014 at 15:16:52

I wouldn't be surprised if he starts with more or less the same team as yesterday, Sam. Some managers get mental block when things start going wrong and want their players to react. I hope I'm wrong but like I said.....

Ajay Gopal
7 Posted 07/12/2014 at 15:22:46

I like it Sam Â– only thing is probably give some time off for Besic and try to get some game time in for Gibson and Pienaar (if they are fit).

I would also like McAleny to be given a run-about at some point. At the same time, Martinez will be conscious of giving the competition and the opposition some respect, so I doubt that we will see Kenny and Ledson as starters.

Robles
Hibbert Browning Alcaraz Garbutt
Gibson Pienaar
McGeady Barkley Oviedo
Kone

Subs: Howard, Osman, Jagielka, McAleney, Ledson, Atsu, Eto'o.

Mark Frere
8 Posted 07/12/2014 at 15:13:43

Sam,

At the moment, I think Browning looks more like a right-back than a centre-back; he looked very shaky recently against Sunderland's U21s Â– not anywhere near the same player we saw playing against the Redshite. I think he might mature into a centre-back eventually... but doesn't look ready, currently.

I would like to see Galloway start alongside Alcaraz; it will be good fitness rehabilitation for Alcaraz and he can use his experience to guide Galloway through the game, like he did with Stones last season.

This would also be the perfect opportunity for McAleny to get some game time; I would play him alongside Kone:

Robles
Browning Galloway Alcaraz Garbutt
Astu Ledson Barry Oviedo
Kone McAleny.

Danny Moore
9 Posted 07/12/2014 at 17:27:41

Kone Â– who's he???? Lol... one thing I can say is he good at holding the ball up which Lukaku can't. They seem made for one another. Interesting to see them paired up... I'd then play Mirallas wide, Barkley in the hole. Exiting Â– like a brand new signing.

Trevor Lynes
10 Posted 07/12/2014 at 21:33:31

Danny! I too would love to see Kone paired with Lukaku especially in home games. I was surprised not to see him and Oviedo on the bench against Man City.

I would like to see Robles, Hibbert, Garbutt, Alcaraz and Jagielka as the back four; Besic and Oviedo forming the defensive midfield; McGeady, Barkley, Kone, and Atsu up front; with Howard, Coleman, Galloway, Osman, Pienaar, Lukaku and McAleny on the bench.

Dominic Tonge
11 Posted 08/12/2014 at 00:20:30

He might well be 'like a new signing'; but what we need to bear in mind is that, if Roberto were to announce that we had an actual new signing Â– BUT our new signing had not featured for a year because of an exploded knee and was over 29 Â– then really we would not be overly happy.

Michael Penley
12 Posted 08/12/2014 at 00:40:00

Robles must play Â– time to put him to the test. If he makes no mistakes then I'd start him in the Premier League over Howard, at least until he messes up again. We've got to have competition for every position.

Paul Ferry
13 Posted 08/12/2014 at 01:19:05

Agree 101 per cent with Mike (#12) about Robles/Howard. I would love to see someone knock Howard off his perch. It would be very good for this club. The issue is that Martinez has inexplicably failed to address the keeper question and it is costing us dearly.

The red/blue-birds fella would be a lovely New Year gift.

ThursdayÂ’s team (assuming a few are fit):

Robies - Jones - Jagielka - Browning - Garbutt - Besic - Oveido - Atsu - Barkley - Kone - Long

4-4-2!

No chance!

Bobby seemingly does not do flexibility and I have a hunch that we might see more Â’seniorÂ’ players than we might think. He has shown a somewhat surprising cautious streak this season that I for one did not expect.

Mark Frere picks Barry! I wouldnÂ’t be sad if he never played for us again. Luckily he is banned for the QPR game but if Bobby had true balls he would drop Barry and Baines for the RÂ’s game and, if Robies does well v the Ruskkis, he should start against HarryÂ’s boys.

None of these three things will happen, I suspect!

Ciaran Duff
14 Posted 08/12/2014 at 03:40:15

Correct me if I'm wrong here, Lyndon, but I don't think that Wolfsburg have already sealed qualification. I believe that if Lille beat them then they will be level on points and go through on head to head?

Anyway, I think that we should be giving our fringe players a go without upsetting team structure too much. If we throw in too many new players (aka the "Moyes League Cup selection option") then the team is disjointed and it is not a fair reflection on the new players.
So, my preference would be:-
Robles
Browning Hibbert Alcaraz Garbutt
Besic Oviedo
Astu Barkley McGeady
Kone
Subs: Howard, Osman, Pienaar, Jagielka, McAleny, Ledson, Eto'o.

Eric Myles
15 Posted 08/12/2014 at 04:44:56

Either of Ajay's or Ciaran's team's should do the job except I'd tell Howard to put his feet up and watch it on telly and put the third goalie, whoever he may be, on the bench.

Dave Duggan
16 Posted 08/12/2014 at 16:54:55

Nothing to lose in this one. Let’s see what the young lads have got with one or two experienced players to help them along.

Robles
Browning
Hibbert
Galloway
Garbutt
Ledson
Baines
Atsu
McAleny
Oviedo
Kone

Tim Greeley
17 Posted 09/12/2014 at 12:04:03

Whoever has Barry in on Thursday actually makes sense for just the reason that he is banned vs QPR. At the moment, we are tight in central midfield so he should play and hopefully regain some form. IÂ’d venture his poor form cost us 2-4 points the past week... contributed to it certainly.

If we donÂ’t see Robles on Thursday, then weÂ’d better loan him out in January and begin the process of scouting our new Â’keeper in earnest. John Ruddy? Michel Vorm? Both were hot shit for awhile.

Robles
Hibbert Browning Alcaraz Garbutt
Atsu Pienaar Barry Oviedo
Kone McAleny/Long

And PLEASE let Kone get through unscathed.

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