Samir Nasri has definitely been ruled out of tomorrow evening’s London Stadium clash against Everton with a calf injury.
Whilst the manager Manuel Pellegrini suggested there was some chance he may make the game we understand he is not part of the squad.
Pellegrini said in Thursday’s press conference: “Samir had a problem in his calf this week so maybe he will not be able to play. We will see and decide the squad soon.”
We were told this evening that Nasri – widely acknowledged as the game changer against Huddersfield – has failed to recover from the knock he picked up in training.
That leaves the 18 man squad essentially the same as it was last week with the addition of Pedro Obiang.
Pellegrini now has to decide whether Fabian Balbuena returns – presumably for Angelo Ogbonna – and question marks certainly remain over Mark Arnautovic who has been unable to find any real form since his return to action.
Likely line-up: Fabianski, Zaba, Balbuena, Diop, Cresswell, Rice, Noble, Snodgrass or Antonio, Lanzini, Anderson, Chicharito.
That might really hamper our chances, hopefully Lanzini will be on form to make up for it and Noble will have one of his good games. Can’t say I am feeling optimistic about this one.