Saturday 09th April 2011
Barclays Premier League
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton 12:45
Steven Fletcher has missed some training this week due to calf complaint but is expected to be declared fit for Wolves this Saturday lunch-time. Definitely watching from the sidelines will be Kevin Doyle (knee), Ronald Zubar (back) and Dave Edwards (also back). Stephen Hunt is also out and is facing surgery on a hernia while on the comeback trail is Adlene Guedioura after six months on the treatment table.
Young PFA Player of the Year contender Seamus Coleman is out for Everton with an ankle injury. Joining him are Jack Rodwell (ankle) and Tim Cahill (foot). Victor Anchibe faces a late fitness test to determine if he can play but Mikel Arteta’s hamstring keeps him out of the travelling squad. Louis Saha and Marouane Fellaini are long-term casualties.
Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City 15:00
Both of these clubs could use the three points to stave off relegation fears.
Blackburn will have to manage without the suspended Steven Nzonzi but Gael Givet returns from his ban. Morten Gamst Pedersen is also back in contention following an illness. Vince Grella is out for the rest of the season due to an Achilles problem, and Keith Andrews is still recovering from a groin operation.
Birmingham’s David Bentley has a groin issue and will not travel. Also staying at home will be Martin Jiranek – his toe is causing all sorts of problems. Strikers Nikola Zigic and Obafemi Martins (both groins) are doubts according to Birmingham boss Alex McLeish. James McFadden (knee) and Scott Dann (hamstring) are still keeping the physio occupied.
Bolton Wanderers v West Ham United 15:00
Zat Knight’s knee injury has cleared up meaning he is available for Bolton. Mark Davies and Ricardo Gardner also return. Stuart Holden, Sean Davis and Sam Ricketts remain sidelined through injury.
West Ham continue to be without Junior Stanislas and Jack Collison for the trip to Bolton.
Chelsea v Wigan Athletic 15:00
Only Alex is a doubt for Chelsea this weekend and otherwise boast a full squad to choose from.
Despite undergoing treatment in the dentist’s chair this week, Wigan skipper Gary Caldwell is available for the trip to London. His availability means the bottom side are at full strength. Connor Sammon is pushing for a first start after three substitute appearances while Mohamed Diame will hope to regain a midfield place.
Manchester United v Fulham 15:00
Wayne Rooney will miss the visit of Fulham due to a suspension for swearing into a television camera. Full-back Rafael is also out having suffered severe bruising in the midweek Champions League game with Chelsea. John O’Shea returns to the squad following a dodgy hamstring and is joined by Wes Brown.
Lots of good news for Fulham ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. Aaron Hughes is fit following a big bang to the head last weekend and striker Bobby Zamora has shaken off an illness. However, Damien Duff, who has been in free
scoring form lately, is a doubt with an Achilles problem.
Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion 15:00
Frazier Campbell and Titus Bramble are absent for Sunderland ahead of the visit of WBA. Campbell hurt his knee last week and is awaiting results of the
specialist’s report. Bramble is suffering from a knee cartilage problem. Nedum Onouha returns to the squad while joining him could be Kieran Richardson (hamstring), Phil Bardsley (knee) and Sulley Muntari (calf). Definitely missing will be long-term knee injury victim David Meyler.
Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City 15:00
Aaron Lennon’s illness which forced him to withdraw very late from the starting XI on Tuesday is still causing him problems and a decision on his inclusion in the matchday squad will be left as late as possible. Facing late
fitness tests will be Niko Kranjcar (foot) Vedran Corluka (ankle). Steven Pienaar (groin) is a definite non-runner as is Younes Kaboul (thigh), Jonathan Woodgate (calf) and Alan hutton (knee). Ledley King has returned to training
but is not near match fit yet while Tom Huddlestone could start his first game since November.
Stoke’s Danny Higgonbotham is out for the remainder of the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury. John Carew has made terrific progress from a back injury and should be on the bench on Saturday afternoon. he should
be joined by Jermaine Pennant, who received a knock in training midweek. Thomas Sorensen and Abdoulaye Faye are also in with shouts of making the travelling matchday squad.
Sunday 10th April 2011
Barclays Premier League
Blackpool v Arsenal 13:30
Big doubts surround the participation of Matty Gilks and Billy Clarke. Both are making good recoveries from their injuries and will face late fitness tests. Definitely out for Blackpool is Chris Basham (broken leg).
Theo Walcott faces a late fitness test for Arsenal as he recovers from an ankle knock. Also facing a test will be Bacary Sagna (knee) but Aaron Ramsey should be fit again after a recent groin injury. Alex Song (knee) is a
definite absentee, and he joins Denilson (toe), Johan Djourou (shoulder), Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) and Wojciech Szczesny (finger) on the sidelines.
Aston Villa v Newcastle United 16:00
Back from suspension for Aston Villa is Ciaran Clark meaning Villa are at full-strength as they entertain Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile the Magpies have a lengthy injury list to contend with. Out are Lua Lua (broken leg), Leon Best (ankle), Dan Gosling (knee), Alan Smith (ankle), Stephen Ireland (thigh muscle strain) and Hatem Ben Arfa (broken leg). Jose Enrique may make the squad but will undergo a fitness test on his hamstring first.
Monday 11th April 2011
Barclays Premier League
Liverpool v Manchester City 20:00
Liverpool will be without influential captain Steven Gerrard for the rest of the season. It was confirmed on Friday morning that his groin is troubling him and he’ll miss the vital run-in. Defensively, Liverpool are struggling with Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly out with hamstring injuries and Daniel Agger is also out with a knee tendon injury sustained last weekend. Fabio Aurelio is still a week or so away from full fitness so the Liverpool rearguard is likley to be a makeshift one. Jonjo Shelvey played for the reserves midweek as he battles back to fitness.
Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta returns to the squad after compassionate leave and Gareth Barry, James Milner and Edin Dzeko should all return to the squad after being rested last weekend. Missing though, are Micah Richards (hamstring) and Jerome Boateng (knee).
