More Injured Defenders

Nothing like playing in a friendly to get yourself injured... This week saw two popular defenders injure themselves: Bosingwa of Chelsea and Bouma of Villa. Both are likely to miss the start of the season.

Bouma sustained the worst injury, dislocating an ankle in Villa's Intertoto Cup third round victory over Danish side Odense. Initially thought to be a broken ankle, the Villa manager Martin O'Neill had this to say on the Villa website:

'The doctor is back from the hospital and says it's a dislocation. Thankfully the skin isn't broken, which is really good news. They've re-set it and he's now in plaster. It's obviously a serious injury to a player who's been playing exceptionally well - he had a great, great season last year and he will be missed.'

Meanwhile Chelsea are without Bosingwa after suffering a thigh injury. Sky Sports reports Big Phil as saying

"He is out for two weeks minimum for treatment and he won't be able to play for three weeks," said Scolari. "At the moment, he is out of the first game against Portsmouth."

In Fantasy terms, at time of writing 14% have Bosingwa (£6.0m) and 4% have Bouma (£5.0m). Both were key defenders who were likely to play a full 90 mins for the first few games. Bouma will not be back for a while, if at all, this season. Bosingwa will return after the first few weeks, and he will be good value.

Most of those 14% with him in their squads will sell him after he doesnt play in the first couple of gameweeks. His price will fall, he will return, and he will be a bargain. Assuming his injury doesnt niggle at him off and on throughout the season, of course...

In the meantime, suitable £6.0m replacements include Laursen of Villa, Neville and Jagielka of Everton, and if you can stretch to £6.5m, Clichy of Arsenal.