- Fri Nov 28, 2003 2:54 pm
#130100
Aston Villa:
Gavin McCann returns from suspension this week, for the clash of the Villians versus the Saints at Villa park and will be joined by Columbian striker Juan Pablo Angel who was rested last week after International duty. Villa's defeat at Spurs cost them the services of Mark Delaney who picked up a knee injury in the build up to the first goal and will miss the game.
Arsenal:
Lauren and Martin Keown are still both serving suspensions after their antics at Old Trafford earlier this season and will be unavailable for Arsenal's game at home to well placed Fulham this Sunday. Patrick Veira and Sylvain Wiltord are still out but Ray Parlour and Gilberto Silva return to a team high on confidence after their win in Milan. Kolo Toure continues to deputise at right-back with Pascal Cygan filling in at the back.
Birmingham City:
Steve Bruce will have to sweat over the fitness of Christophe Dugarry for Sunday's clash with Liverpool at Anfield. Dugarry missed the game against Arsenal with a knee injury he aggravated in Birmingham's draw with Wolves, three weeks ago. Birmingham are struggling to get goals at the moment and Dugarry will be played if fit, giving David Dunn his usual place back in midfield. Apart from the Frenchman, Bruce has the luxury of no new injury worries.
Blackburn:
Andy Cole and Lucas Neil are still serving suspensions and so will not figure this weekend as Blackburn welcome Spurs to Ewood Park. This could give a first Premiership start to young Scottish striker Paul Gallagher who impressed by setting up Blackburn's goal at Old Trafford last week. Garry Flitcroft and Tugay have returned from minor injuries and should feature.
Bolton:
Youri Djorkaeff looks like he has finally shaken off his troublesome calf injury. Djorkaeff was only a sub in Bolton's victory at Elland Road last week and is expected to make his return in the starting line-up against Everton at the Reebok on Saturday. Kevin Nolan may make way for the Frenchman after Kevin Davies and Stylianos Giannakopoulos both hit goals last week. Emerson Thome will also return after missing that game, giving manager Sam Allardyce a relatively injury free squad to choose from.
Charlton:
Alan Curbishley will be given an early Christmas bonus with Midfielders Scott Parker and Claus Jensen available again after suspension and injury respectively. Jonatan Johansson will face a late fitness test, and a few players have knocks after last week's hard fought point at Leicester, including Mark Fish who was injured early in the game..
Chelsea:
Saturday's crunch game between Chelsea and Man United at Stamford Bridge may give the biggest indication of what Claudio Ranieri thinks is his strongest team. He will be witout Juan Sebastian Veron who will miss the game against his old club with a back strain. Glen Johnson is now available after suspension in midweek although Mario Melchiot scored in his last Premiership match and may earn himself a place at right-back.
Eventon
Gary Naysmith seems as though he will be the only member of Everton's long injury list to return to the set-up this weekend. Naysmith missed the 2-0 victory over Wolves, but should come back into the side for the game at the Reebok on Saturday. Alessandro Pistone, Scot Gemmill and Lee Carsley all started training this week, but will be kept waiting for a first team return.
Fulham:
Saha and Steed Malbranque both picked up minor knocks in last Monday's victory over Portsmouth, but both are expected to feature in their trip to Highbury on Sunday. Alain Goma also looks like he may be available after a minor knee operation although news isn't quite so good for Mark Pembridge who has a calf strain and Louis Boa Morte, who has served one match of a three match ban.
Leeds:
Dominic Matteo and striker Alan Smith return to the Leeds side for Saturday's clash after both serving a one-match suspension. Gary Kelly and Jermaine Pennant are also returning for the game, after missing the two nil defeat by Bolton at the weekend. Although Roque Junior will be out for some time with an ankle injury and Lamine Sakho will have to sit on the sidelines with a cracked rib. Stephen McPhail has completed his loan spell at Forest and is available for selection.
Leicester:
Dickov is a big injury doubt ahead of Saturday's clash with Portsmouth. The Scottish striker is suffering from a back problem, meaning that Micky Adams could well go with an unchanged line up from the team that drew with Charlton last week.
Liverpool:
Michael Owen is having a scan on a thigh muscle strain that he picked up in the UEFA Cup but Gerard Houllier expects him to be fully recovered in time for Sunday. Steve Finnan is missing with a calf injury that forced him off the pitch last weekend. Salif Diao should once again cover the right back position whilst Dietmar Hamann's inclusion will depend on his reaction to playing the full game on Thursday.
Man City:
Wright-Phillips returns to league action after a three match suspension and should start after being included in the line up for Thursday night's UEFA Cup exit. Kevin Keegan has no new injury problems but is growing increasingly worried by his teams inability to convert their chances.
Man Utd:
Having missed the Champions League victory over Panathanaikos with a slight hamstring strain, Roy Keane is expected to be fit to play in the crucial clash with Chelsea this weekend. United have almost a full strength squad to choose from, having had the luxury of resting a number of players in midweek. Paul Scholes is near a return and could be back for next weekend's game.
Newcastle:
Alan Shearer is expected to play despite suffering a head wound against Basle. Andy O'Brien is missing through suspension but Jonathan Woodgate will play after being rested on Thursday..
Portsmouth:
Harry Redknapp's squad is being stretched to it's limits at the moment but the majority of his starting eleven are still intact. Jason Roberts is the latest player to suffer, having been ruled out for the next fortnight with an ankle injury whilst Shaka Hislop is out for around two months with his hernia problem.
Southampton:
James Beattie has announced that he's fit for selection following the calf injury that forced him out of last weekend's game with Chelsea. Jason Dodd is again likely to miss out with his groin strain but Michael Svensson returns after suspension.
Spurs:
Frederic Kanoute isn't ready to return to action at the moment, with the club not risking him in a reserve game this week. Gustavo Poyet is also added to the injury list with a wrist problem but he is the only new injury problem for David Pleat to deal with. Bobby Zamora and Helder Postiga will again battle it out for the right to partner Robbie Keane in attack.
Wolves:
Colin Cameron is Dave Jones' main worry ahead of the game with Newcastle. The Scottish midfielder has been missing recently with a stomach injury and may struggle to return this weekend. Mark Kennedy and Alex Rae are fit after recent knocks whilst Hassan Kachloul is also ready to return.Previous line up (Saturday 22nd November): Oakes, Naylor, Craddock, Butler, Irwin, Newton (Miller 45), Rae (Gudjonsson 65), Ince, Kennedy, Iversen (Blake 45), Camara. The Pink predicts: Oakes, Naylor, Craddock, Butler, Irwin, Kachloul, Ince, Rae, Kennedy, Iversen, Blake, Camara.
chrismoyles.net
