A host of early morning press conferences gives us plenty to ponder ahead of the weekendβs fixtures. Ashley Young is a doubt for United, Luis Suarez is getting treatment for a knock sustained at Stoke, while Tottenhamβs injury woes appear to be easing up:
Sir Alex Fergusonβs morning press conference brought the news that Ashley Young is a doubt for tomorrowβs game with Everton. With the game at Goodison a twelve oβclock kick-off, Fantasy managers should have the team sheets before tomorrow morningβs 11.30 deadline, though. According to the United boss:
Ashley Young has got a toe injury. It’s nothing serious … hopefully we have a strong enough squad for tomorrow.
Everton have confirmed both Tim Cahill and Phil Neville are out of tomorrowβs clash. David Moyes revealed he is weighing up whether to play Louis Saha after the Frenchman played from the start to the end of extra time in the Toffees midweek Carling Cup fixture with Chelsea:
I thought it was Louis’ best game. I think the goal against Fulham has given him confidence. I think the problem we have got now is that Louis has injuries he has to look after and he’s played 120 minutes which ideally we wouldn’t have liked him to do. So again that has an effect on team selection and what we do for this game.
Kenny Dalglish was non-committal on the availability of Luis Suarez ahead of tomorrow eveningβs trip to the Hawthorns. The Uruguayan limped off at Stoke in midweek, having bagged a brace in the 2-1 win at the Britannia. When quizzed on his star strikerβs availability for the game with West Brom, the Liverpool boss would only say:
He’s had a bit of treatment so we’ll see how is. He’s had a tough time recently, so we’ll see how he is tomorrow.
Harry Redknapp gave an update on the fitness situation at Tottenham this morning. Sandro, William Gallas, Ledley King and Steven Pienaar are all in the reckoning for Sundayβs home derby against QPR. Harry went on to say:
William trained all week and will train again tomorrow. He hasnβt played a game since last season and we have to see how he is. He could be involved. Ledley’s improving and we’ll wait to see how he is tomorrow. It doesn’t look like he’s far away. Sandro’s had another scan, it looks okay and he feels okay. Steven is on the way back, which is good. He feels a lot better.
Owen Coyle confirmed this morning that on-loan Man City defender Dedryk Boyata will sidelined for around six weeks with ankle ligament damage. Boyata had established himself as the regular right-back for Bolton in recent weeks but his absence should afford Gretar Steinsson another chance.
Alex McLeish has not ruled out extending Barry Bannanβs club suspension beyond this weekend. The young Scot has been banned from participation while the club investigates his arrest amid allegations of drink driving and, as Big Eck explained yesterday:
We are not pre-judging anything. We have to have discipline. We have to have a mutual respect, weβre in the professional world. And there have to be certain ground rules. We will have to wait and see with Barry but heβs not available this weekend.
Thomas Vermaelen will return to Arsenalβs squad tomorrow, though may have to be content with a bench role. Arsene Wenger admitted the Belgianβs fitness is still βlittle bit shortβ with Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker likely to keep their places at the heart of the Gunners back-four for the trip to Chelsea. Kieran Gibbs is still sidelined with a stomach muscle problem, while Carl Jenkinson has an outside chance of featuring.
Steven Taylor could be available for Newcastleβs trip to Stoke on Monday, despite suffering a broken nose. The centre half picked up the injury in last weekβs match with Wigan and has since had an operation to alleviate the problem. He is expected to wear a protective mask for the Britannia clash, while Alan Pardew will make a late decision on the fitness of Cheik Tiote, with the Ivorian suffering a knee problem in the same game.
