Winter of discontent over break
GERARD DEULOFEU has cast a cloud over Watford’s recovery under Javi Gracia after being ruled out until after Easter.
On-loan Barcelona winger Deulofeu limped off with an ankle injury during the vital 1-0 victory against his former club Everton last Saturday night.
And head coach Gracia’s worst fears were confirmed when the Spanish winger (right) confirmed he faces an extended lay-off.
Deulofeu, 23, tweeted: “Unfortunately I will be out from the pitch for some time, but I will work hard every day in order to be back and ready to play. “Thank you for all the support.” Since his arrival at Watford, 24 hours before the January transfer deadline, the Hornets have banked seven points from four games to pull away from the Premier League drop zone. But Deulofeu’s lay-off is a setback for his chances of making Spain’s World Cup squad in Russia this summer, which was his main motivation for choosing a loan move to Vicarage Road. A BACKLASH against plans for a Premier League winter break has begun.
Clubs in the lower leagues are angry at proposals to scrap FA Cup replays – agreed by the FA, Premier League and Football League.
Accrington Stanley chairman Andy Holt tweeted: “Simple really. Lose windfall income so that they can have a nice holiday”.
The Premier League are already known to be happy with the deal, which would see their top-flight stars given the first two weeks of February off from the 2019-20 season onwards.
Five top-flight fixtures would be played on one weekend, with the remainder on the other.
But it means that the FA Cup fifth round will be played in midweek. Also, there will be no replays – potentially depriving clubs in the lower leagues of millions of pounds.
Players in the Championship would also not get a winter break as the punishing 46-game programme allows less flexibility to provide one.