Drinkwater could be in hot water
Dubravka sees Toon run ended by injury
DANNY Drinkwater is sweating on his future at Aston Villa after an alleged altercation with team- mate Jota.
The on- loan Chelsea midfielder is set to be fined two weeks’ wages and could be sent back to his parent club after the alleged incident in training on Tuesday.
Drinkwater and the rest of Villa’s stars had a day off yesterday and the squad return to training today ahead of Chelsea’s visit on Saturday.
But Drinkwater, 30, is unlikely to be involved because he is ineligible to play
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MARTIN DUBRAVKA has been ruled out for up to eight weeks with a knee injury.
The Newcastle goalkeeper suffered ligament damage in Saturday’s win over Southampton after clashing with Danny Ings, but played on.
He has started 79 consecutive league games, but the Slovakian will be replaced by Karl Darlow for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Sheffield United.
Dubravka said: “Obviously I’m not happy, but that’s part
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Villa boss Dean Smith is considering his next move at the 19th- placed strugglers after sending Drinkwater home on Tuesday.
Smith has huge problems of his own because he is favourite to be the next Premier League manager to be sacked after four straight losses, including Monday night’s 4- 0 thumping at Leicester.
The next day, Drinkwater reportedly squared up to Jota. of football. Sometimes you get injured and you can’t do much.
“I’m trying to stay positive and calm and trying to get ready as soon as possible, but hopefully I can be back soon.
“The people who know me know that I want to play every time, even if I’m not 100 per cent. “Obviously this is bigger than that, so I can’t play, but I’m quite confident that my team- mates, whether it’s Karl or Rob Elliot, will definitely play very well.”
ARSENAL women’s boss Joe Montemurro is returning to Australia for “family reasons”. The Gunners are third in the Women’s Super League and face Tottenham in the last eight of the FA Cup at Meadow Park on Sunday.