As we announced in our previous post, Rafael Van der Vaart is available for Spurs tomorrow. Elsewhere, another fast and furious Friday brings plenty news from around the Premier League- read on for more as the press conference updates begin to roll in.
Dimitar Berbatov, Rafael and Fabio have all been ruled out of Man United’s trip to Aston Villa tomorrow. The trio picked up injuries in the midweek Carling Cup defeat by Crystal Palace, though Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed the Bulgarian’s injury is not a serious one.
Sylvain Distin looks set to return for Everton’s game against Stoke. The centre-half has been training with the first-team since Monday and is likely to recover from a groin strain ahead of the Goodison clash on Sunday. Phil Neville, Jack Rodwell and Royston Drenthe are all being assessed as the Toffees go for three wins in a row.
Shane Long is to take pain-killing injections in order to overcome a groin problem and play at QPR tomorrow. With Zoltan Gera ruled out for the season earlier this week, Long’s presence up front will be a major boost for West Brom ahead of the Loftus Road showdown.
Cheik Tiote will be missing once again for Newcastle as Chelsea make their make to Tyneside. The Ivorian has been sidelined for five games now, though Danny Guthrie has proven to be an able deputy alongside Yohan Cabaye. Leon Best is set to recover from a groin problem and boost Alan Pardew’s forward options.
Steve Kean received a significant boost ahead of tomorrow’s game with Swansea. Chris Samba, Martin Olsson and Michel Salgado are all available for the Ewood Park showdown for bottom of the table Blackburn. Junior Hoilett is a doubt, though, having picked up a virus.
Owen Coyle’s defensive worries are starting to ease up. Joe Riley is making good progress from a hamstring problem, while Sam Rickets has been penciled in for a reserve outing next week as he continues his recovery from an Achilles injury. Neither will feature tomorrow at Spurs, though. Coyle confirmed both Dedryk Boyata and David Ngog are in contention for comebacks tomorrow, though Ricardo Gardner and Nigel Reo-Coker are rated as “touch and go”, with knee and hamstring problems respectively.
Danny Graham is a major doubt for Swansea at Blackburn tomorrow. Leroy Lita is likely to lead the line for the Swans, with Graham struggling to overcome an Achilles problem sustained in last week’s draw with Aston Villa. Ashley Richards should deputise for Angel Rangel at right-back, with the Spaniard sidelined for a month with an ankle injury picked up in the same game.
Richard Stearman is set for a speedy return to the Wolves first-team. The right-back looks likely to play with a protective cast on his injured wrist on Sunday at home to manager-less Sunderland- Ronald Zubar seems set to drop out again for the crucial clash against the Black Cats.
Neil Warnock revealed he is still optimistic that Shaun Wright-Phillips will be involved in QPR’s game with West Brom. The winger- who has been playing up front of late- picked up a foot injury last week but is set to feature, providing he comes through today’s training session unscathed. Adel Taarabt could return to the first-team squad, while Kieron Dyer and David Connolly are making good progress from injury.
Damien Duff is a doubt for Fulham’s game with Liverpool on Monday night. The winger returned to the first-team in last night’s Europa League clash with FC Twente but suffered a recurrence of a hamstring problem.
