Wayne Rooney is set to be fit for tomorrow’s game with Newcastle. Chris Samba looks unlikely to play for Blackburn at Stoke, while Villa will check on Stiliyan Petrov’s sore hamstring later today. It’s a quick Scribbles this morning, ahead of a busy Friday..
Sir Alex Ferguson gave Wayne Rooney’s Fantasy owners something to smile about earlier today. The Man United boss confirmed in his regular Friday morning press conference that he feels Rooney will be fit for tomorrow’s Old Trafford clash against Alan Pardew’s Newcastle. Rooney seems to have shaken off the hip problem he suffered at Swansea last weekend and having missed the midweek Champions League game with Benfica, is looking in good shape to feature.
Fergie announced that while he expects Anderson to be ruled out until February with an ongoing knee problem, he is delighted with the defensive cover now coming back ahead of tomorrow’s game:
Smalling’s fitness is a boost and Rafael is also back, so the defensive part of the team is OK.
Peter Grant is confident that Gabby Agbonlahor and Chris Herd will be available for Aston Villa’s game at Swansea on Sunday. The assistant manager gave an injury update earlier and confirmed Agbonlahor has had no reaction to his return from a hamstring problem, while Herd is looking likely to recover from a leg injury that forced him off at the end of Monday’s game at Spurs. Stiliyan Petrov, however, had a sore hamstring after the Spurs match and will be monitored after today’s training.
Blackburn boss Steve Kean revealed both Chris Samba and Martin Olsson are unlikely to make tomorrow’s game with Stoke. Kean is hopeful Michel Salgado can shake off a hamstring niggle that has bothered the right-back for a number of weeks now, while Ryan Nelsen will return to training with the first-team squad on Monday.
Arsene Wenger gave an update on injured full-backs Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs yesterday. The Gunners boss confirmed Jenkinson is out for three weeks and Gibbs another four, meaning Andre Santos will continue at left-back for the foreseeable future. Laurent Koscielny filled in at right-back last week and could continue there in Jenkinson’s absence, with Per Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen in the centre of defence.
Reports today suggest QPR are looking for a buyer for Adel Taarabt after finally losing patience with the Moroccan. Taarabt has been a bitter disappointment in the Premier League this season, with no goals or assists and the side looked a lot more compact without him at Stoke last weekend- the only problem with any possible deal is that his former club Spurs are entitled to 40% of the transfer fee.
The Mirror report James McCarthy is a doubt for Wigan’s trip to Sunderland with a groin problem. Hugo Rodallega could return to the Latics starting lineup tomorrow- the forward missed last week’s home clash against Blackburn due to a virus but has now recovered.

