Tuesday 14 August 2012

EPL's new season smacked by injuries

The new season for English Premier League is about to start and the clubs are dealing with the injury woes of significant players. 

Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is out of the England squad for Wednesday's friendly against Italy in Switzerland after suffering an ankle injury during Arsenal's pre-season game against Cologne. He was sent back to his club after reporting for duty with England squad. 

Oxlade joins Manchester City's Joe Hart and Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge in withdrawing from contention for the match in Berne. Manchester City goalkeeper Hart is suffering from a back injury that kept him out of Sunday's Community Shield triumph over Chelsea whereas Blues striker Daniel Sturridge, a substitute in that game, suffers a toe problem. 

Another Arsenal player Laurent Koscielny has been taken out of the France squad to play Uruguay due to a calf injury during Arsenal's pre-season friendly win over Cologne last weekend. 

Koscielny was given acquiescence to miss Wednesday's match to return to London after tests at the France training camp yesterday exposed the problem. 

Manchester City and Italy's controversial striker Mario Balotelli has been ruled out of this week's international friendly against England due to an eye infection. He has been released by coach Cesare Prandelli after coming down with conjunctivitis. 

Italy's coach Prandelli said "We were hoping [Balotelli] would recover in time, but it wasn't to be. I want to give him a key role in the long term and I expect him to accept responsibility when I do." 

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