Sir Alex Ferguson masterminds a first-leg draw at the Bernabeu. John Terry is back in Chelsea’s Europa League squad after missing out at the weekend. Yoan Gouffran is expected back at training on Monday for Newcastle. Andre Villas-Boas is happy that Michael Dawson gives him a selection headache and Joey O’Brien nurses his injury as Sam Allardyce and his squad warm up in Dubai…

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Phil Jones recovered from the calf problem that forced him off against Everton last Sunday, while Jonny Evans was also back in the United XI after being subbed off with cramp late on in the 2-0 weekend win. Sir Alex Ferguson continued his policy of rotating Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic alongside Evans – the former partnered the Northern Ireland international this time, with Vidic omitted entirely, having played against Everton on Sunday. Wayne Rooney was once again utilised in a wide position; having been fielded on the left last weekend, he lined up on the right in a 4-2-3-1 last night and supplied the assist for Danny Welbeck’s opener, with Shinji Kagawa in “the hole” behind Robin Van Persie.

Prior to the match, Ferguson shed more light on the situation regarding his central defenders and confirmed his intentions of managing Vidic and Ferdinand’s game time – encouraging signs for those Fantasy managers eyeing up Evans for the upcoming run of fixtures:

“We try and manage Vidic and Rio and if he had that extra day he would have been alright. If we had played on the Saturday, the extra day would have suited me, but he plays one game every eight or nine days and still has to manage his comeback from injury. Rio is exactly the same, and the type of game on Sunday suited Vidic more.”

Rafa Benitez was given a defensive boost yesterday after John Terry was included in the Chelsea squad for this evening’s game with Sparta Prague. Terry missed out against Wigan on Saturday after suffering inflammation to a knee problem and his inclusion has allayed fears of a possible setback ahead of a superb run of fixtures for the Blues. Benitez confirmed his skipper has come through training without any ill-effects:

“There was no reaction to his knee (from training), that is positive. It’s a question of time.”

Gary Cahill was also listed in the squad – he was subbed off towards the end of the 4-1 triumph with cramp but appears to have made an immediate recovery. David Luiz and Demba Ba are both afforded the night off, though; Luiz is suspended, while Ba is cup-tied, having represented Newcastle in the same competition earlier this season.

Brendan Rodgers named a strong squad for Liverpool’s match with Zenit in Russia this evening. The only omissions were enforced – Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho were left behind in Merseyside as both players are cup-tied, having played for Chelsea and Inter in Europe earlier this season.

Alan Pardew is confident of a quick return to action for Yoan Gouffran. The Frenchman was stretchered off at Tottenham last Saturday lunchtime amid fears of a suspected broken leg but initial scans revealed no fracture. Gouffran underwent further tests earlier this week and his manager was delighted with the results:

“That’s all good news, fortunately. We think he’ll train on Monday.”

Gouffran is omitted from the Newcastle squad to face Metalist Kharkiv in the Europa League this evening – he is cup-tied, having already featured for Bordeaux in the same competition before his move to Tyneside. While Moussa Sissoko has understandably hogged the headlines over the last few games, Gouffran has also made an immediate – he notched the equaliser at the Lane and also supplied an assist in the 3-2 win over Chelsea in Gameweek 25 and could well be set to return in time for the home clash with Southampton a week on Sunday as Pardew looks to return to winning ways.

Andre Villas-Boas has taken time to sing the praises of Michael Dawson after the defender recently cemented a regular role in the heart of the Spurs defence. Dawson looked out of favour under Villas-Boas and was set to exit White Hart Lane last summer but his manager admitted he’s relieved the club chose to keep him and hinted that William Gallas may be the man most likely to depart now:

“Yes, I think we appreciate the fact we were able to hang on to him. What we told him was we couldn’t assure [a specific number of games]… We decide based on the game and the characteristics of the game and the current run of form. We are grateful, in the end. We ended up being on the better side by the fact he agreed to stay with us. We were lucky in that sense. We have five top central defenders at the moment, a mixture of young players coming through with lots of experience, and then you have such tremendous central defenders as William [Gallas], Dawson and Younes Kaboul. My squads in the past are built on four central defenders. William has been a massive player for us this season… He’s a player we trust a lot. Whatever we decide regarding his future, we’ll have to wait and see, but we are aware of what a presence he’s been for us this season.”

Dawson has now started eight of the last nine league matches and has ousted Gallas as the season has progressed. The Frenchman was named in the first XI in all but one of the first 17 Gameweeks but has now managed a single start in the last nine due to Dawson’s displays. While Younes Kaboul is due to start training on Monday after a long-term knee injury, it looks highly unlikely that Villas-Boas would rush him back, affording Dawson further chance to impress as a 4.5 option in FPL –with two clean sheets in seven, though, faith in the Tottenham defence is hardly high right now.

West Ham have confirmed Joey O’Brien has been omitted from the club’s break in Dubai this week in order to receive treatment on the leg injury that forced him off midway through the first-half of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Villa. Andy Rolls, the Hammers’ head of sports science and medicine, gave the official site an update on the full-back’s situation and also revealed George McCartney and James Collins are starting to step up their respective recoveries:

“George has had an operation on his knee and is now running in straight lines and James who is soon to return to training. They have stayed behind to work on their rehabilitation to try to get back as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Joey had to come off with quite a nasty dead leg so he also had to stay behind for treatment, but they are our only injuries at the moment, which is great. We had a few over Christmas and it was hard but the boys have worked hard to turn it around.”

O’Brien has started all but one of West Ham’s last 17 since establishing himself as a first-team fixture back in Gameweek 10. Having provided a couple of goals and pair of assists, he’s the most popular outfield player amongst Sam Allardyce’s squad, with a FPL ownership of almost 14%. With McCartney still unavailable, the Hammers’ full-back spots are somewhat limited; any potential length of absence for O’Brien could see Guy Demel return to the starting line-up. The Ivorian was replaced at right-back by the versatile O’Brien in Gameweek 25 but climbed off the bench to deputise in the 2-1 Villa Park defeat.