Check on all the latest injury news ahead of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures before you place your bets.
Aston Villa v Everton
Robbie Keane will make his debut for ASTON VILLA after joining on loan and will replace the absent Emile Heskey (Achilles) and ‘keeper Shay Given is fit again but Chris Herd (ankle) is still injured. EVERTON signings Landon Donovan and Darren Gibson are pushing for places and Jack Rodwell returns but Sylvain Distin (hamstring) is a major doubt and Phil Jagielka (knee) is out.
Blackburn v Fulham
BLACKBURN are set to welcome a number of faces back to first team action including Paul Robinson, Junior Hoilett, David Dunn and Christopher Samba but defender Scott Dann (groin) is not ready and Ryan Nelsen (knee) is also out. FULHAM can call on Andrew Johnson and Simon Davies but Dickson Etuhu (knock) is a doubt and Mark Schwarzer (back) needs a fortnight.
Chelsea v Sunderland
Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou have left CHELSEA for the Africa Cup and Gael Kakuta has gone to Dijon on loan while Branislav Ivanovic and John Obi Mikel (both hamstring) are out and Florent Malouda (knock) is a doubt. Strikers Nicklas Bendtner and Frazier Campbell both return to the SUNDERLAND attack but Jack Colback (ankle) and Wes Brown (groin) remain unavailable.
Liverpool v Stoke
LIVERPOOL recall Jose Enrique to left-back and Charlie Adam starts as Jay Spearing (hamstring) will sit out, Luis Suarez is suspended and Lucas Leiva (knee) is out long term. STOKE’s only definite absentee is Mamady Sidibe (knee) but Andy Wilkinson (back) is still a doubt and there are concerns over the fitness of Marc Wilson and Ryan Shotton but Peter Crouch comes back in.
Man United v Bolton
MAN UNITED may hand Paul Scholes a starting berth this weekend but they must assess the fitness of Rio Ferdinand (illness) and Phil Jones (knock) while Nemanja Vidic (knee) and Fabio da Silva (hamstring) are absent. Gary Cahill remains in BOLTON’s defence ahead of Zat Knight and Jussi Jaaskelainen will be assessed late on as he nears a return but Stuart Holden (knee) is out.
Tottenham v Wolves
Scott Parker could return for SPURS after missing three games but players missing include Ledley King (fitness), Sandro (calf), Tom Huddlestone (ankle) and William Gallas (calf) while Aaron Lennon could be rested. WOLVES can recall Dave Edwards and Roger Johnson from injury and Nenad Milijas comes back from a ban while Steven Fletcher has also shaken off an ankle injury.
West Brom v Norwich
Roy Hodgson must check on a number of WEST BROM players’ fitness including Jerome Thomas (groin), Youssuf Mulumbu (groin) and Shane Long (back) while Chris Brunt (ankle) and Steven Reid (knee) are out. ‘Keeper John Ruddy steps back into goals for NORWICH and Marc Tierney is fit but Ritchie De Laet (back), James Vaughan and Elliot Ward (both knee) are all sidelined.
Newcastle v QPR – Sun
NEWCASTLE could be facing problems up front as Sammy Ameobi (knee), Nile Ranger (foot) and Peter Lovenkrands (knock) are injured while Demba Ba and Cheik Tiote head to the Africa Cup. QPR must go without the suspended Joey Barton while Kieron Dyer (foot) and Alejandro Faurlin (knee) are out and pairing Adel Taarabt and Armand Traore leave for the Africa Cup.
Swansea v Arsenal – Sun
SWANSEA will revert to a near full strength team as only long-termers Alan Tate (leg) and Ferry Bodde (knee) are out and Brendan Rodgers must decide whether to give new signing Darnel Situ a role. Gervinho has left ARSENAL for the Africa Cup so Thierry Henry could play while Kieran Gibbs (hernia), Bacary Sagna (ankle), Santos (ankle) and Jack Wilshere (ankle) are all injured.
Wigan v Man City – Mon
Albert Crusat returns to the fold at WIGAN and Shaun McManaman could feature but Shaun Maloney (fitness) needs more time and Mohamed Diame leaves for the Africa Cup. David Silva goes back into MAN CITY’s midfield but Mario Balotelli (ankle) is back in the treatment room and is out along with Vincent Kompany (suspended), Kolo Toure and Yaya Toure (both Africa Cup).
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