UPDATE: EvertonFC have announced:
Marouane Fellaini is returning to Everton for further assessment of his knee injury. Fellaini picked up a knock during the 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic last weekend and although he managed to complete the game, the significance of his injury only became apparent 48 hours later.
The Blues medical team have reviewed his scans and will assess him fully when he returns to Finch Farm on Monday.
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News from the Belgian FA is that Maroune Fellaini is out three weeks, with their Official website stating Everton have agreed for Fellaini to rehab the injury in his home country. We’re not entirely sure as we do not speak Belgian but this is the official presser:
Middenvelder Marouane Fellaini (Everton) moet forfait geven voor de wedstrijden met de Rode Duivels tegen Servië en Schotland.
Fellaini heeft een scheurtje in de overgang van spier naar pees ter hoogte van de knie. Dat werd vanmiddag na een scan vastgesteld. Fellaini liep de blessure zaterdag op in de wedstrijd met zijn club Everton FC tegen Wigan Athletic. Hij zal drie weken buiten strijd zijn.
Met zijn club Everton FC is afgesproken dat hij die tijd in België zal revalideren.
Which…beep, bo, beep…we’ve run through Google Translate and arrived at:
Midfielder Marouane Fellaini (Everton) package must provide for the games with the Red Devils against Serbia and Scotland.
Fellaini has a tear in the transition of the sinewy at the level of the knee. That was this afternoon after a scan set. Fellaini was the injury on Saturday in the match with his club Everton FC vs. Wigan Athletic.
He will have three weeks outside conflict.
With his club Everton FC has agreed that he will recover that time in Belgium.
This is not good news. This is quite bad news. The giant Belgian is an impressive force in the heart of David Moyes’ side and we’ve no idea if this will negatively impact the rest of the squad or if the absence — if eventually confirmed by Everton — will open up space for Leon Osman and Steve Pienaar to push the attack and link directly with Jelavic and Mirallas. Fellaini is priced £7.3m and selected in 31.5% of Fantasy Premier League sides. We have been pressing Pienaar recently, regardless, but this news, once confirmed by Everton, will mean mass exodus of Fellaini ownership.
It is a bit of bad luck for all as Mirallas had only just lauded the link-up play with Nikica Jelavic:
Kevin Mirallas is excited by his flourishing understanding with Nikica Jelavic. The Croat has scored three in his last three, while Mirallas has been getting better with every game. The Belgian admits Jelavic’s qualities have helped him find his feet quickly and that their interplay comes naturally.
Mirallas — priced £7.4m, 0.6% selected in Fantasy Premier League — and Jelavic — priced £8.4m, 8.0% selected in Fantasy Premier League –have combined for five goals and three assists this season. NJ has four of the goals and one assist to lead the duo in FPL scoring.
Fellaini’s 13 chances created are third among Toffees, behind Leighton Baines (30) and Pienaar (10) and just ahead of Jelavic (10). That is four Toffees with 10 or more chances created. No other Barclays Premier League side has more than three – THFC have four player with 10 or more created on the season, but Moussa Dembélé has only created eight in his time with Spurs. Fantasy premier league managers should not rely solely on this statistic, but we’re noting this fact here because Moyes’ squad are uniquely positioned in that they rely heavily on their first-choice starting XI. The strength of the starting XI may overcome, there may be the need for one of the frequent bench players to step up, or EFC may finally miss Jack Rodwell.