Steven Gerrard steps up his recovery from an ankle infection. Tony Pulis talks festive rotation, Phil Jagielka heaps praise on Royston Drenthe and Jermain Defoe will play for Spurs in this evening’s Europa League match, much to the delight of Rafael Van der Vaart owners:

Liverpool have this morning revealed Steven Gerrard has made significant progress in his rehabilitation as he recovers from an ankle infection. The Reds skipper hasn’t featured since gameweek 9 due to the problem and with Lucas sidelined for the season with a knee injury, his return is more crucial than ever. Although the club have refused to put a timescale on his comeback, with Gerrard returning to light training last week, it’s perhaps not too far away. Kenny Dalglish admitted:

Steven is progressing and training really well. Everybody is delighted with his progress, so that is positive as well. We’ll wait and see. We won’t set any targets for Sunday that we won’t reach. When he’s ready he’ll be ready. It’s fantastic for him that he’s progressing as well as he is and great for us as well.

Last night’s news from the Tottenham camp ahead of their Europa League clash with Shamrock Rovers this evening was intriguing for Fantasy managers. Harry Redknapp confirmed that Jermain Defoe will play, with owners of Rafael Van der Vaart feeling a little more positive ahead of the weekend game against Sunderland. Defoe’s participation certainly suggests that Redknapp will continue with the Dutchman alongside Emmanuel Adebayor for the Black Cats visit on Sunday.

Fulham have been handed a blow with the news that Mark Schwarzer is set for a spell on the sidelines with a neck injury. Fulham’s official website has confirmed that the Australian goalkeeper has a compression to his thoracic spine which occurred against Swansea and will be unavailable for 4-6 weeks. The Cottagers have recalled David Stockdale from his loan spell at Ipswich- he should be available for selection for their home game against Bolton on Saturday. Young goalkeeper Neil Etheridge deputized between the sticks last night for Fulham in their Europa League clash with Odense.

Blackburn Rovers are in the middle of a mini-injury crisis, with the fitness of Martin Olsson, Gael Givet and Michel Salgado all being monitored ahead of their home game against West Brom. Steve Kean has been handed a timely boost, with Jason Lowe declaring himself fit for the weekend. Lowe left the game on Sunday after a sustaining a head injury, but insists:

As far as I’m aware I’ll be up for selection, training and looking forward to the game. I felt it to say the least as soon as it had happened, but after a few stitches and a few bruises I’m just getting on with it.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is optimistic that midfield duo David Edwards and Matt Jarvis will both overcome knocks to be available for their vital home game against Stoke. The pair have been first-team fixtures of late but picked up groin and thigh injuries respectively in the defeat at Man United. Big Mick added that Jody Craddock and Kevin Foley are both progressing well in their return from injury.

Andy Wilkinson left the field injured after only 28 minutes of Stoke’s Europa League game with Besiktas last night. Wilkinson has only just returned from a back problem and although the prognosis of his latest problem has yet to be revealed, any possible absence may mean a continued role at right-back for Jonathan Woodgate. Tony Pulis rang the changes, with the likes of Matthew Upson, Danny Higginbotham, Asmir Begovic and Jermaine Pennant starting. Pennant’s place in the first XI will be of particular interest to those Fantasy managers eyeing up Ryan Shotton. The latter has started the Potters’ last two league games on the right wing and, given he’s a 4.0 defender, is starting to attract investment. Despite the 3-1 defeat, Pulis was pleased with the run-out many of his squad players managed and admitted:

There are a lot of matches coming up in the next few weeks over Christmas and the New Year and there is no doubt they will be needed.

Antolin Alcaraz could make a swift return from injury against Chelsea on Saturday. The Paraguayan defender was not expected to see action until after the New Year after leaving the field against West Brom with a suspected fractured rib, but Roberto Martinez has said that the centre-half feels good and has put a “51% chance”on him playing. A decision on his fitness is expected to follow within the next 24 hours.

Phil Jagielka has been talking up the abilities of Royston Drenthe ahead of Everton’s home clash with Norwich. The Toffees have now gone two games without a goal and have sorely missed the Dutchman’s presence according to Jagielka, with the on-loan winger currently sidelined due to a foot problem:

Hopefully he can be fit enough to play some part in the next two games. He gives us that bit of flair and spark so hopefully he can play a big part and score a couple or set up a couple over the next couple of weeks. It’s hard to know where he is going to pop up but we need that unpredictability because sometimes it’s been a bit too easy to mark us. Offensively he adds a massive threat with his ability, his pace and his shooting.

Sean Davis and Sam Ricketts both turned out for Bolton’s reserves yesterday as they stepped up their recoveries from injury. Davis hasn’t played for 27 months after extensive knee surgery, while Ricketts has been sidelined with a ruptured Achilles. Owen Coyle received more good news, with Chung-yong Lee making good progress from a broken leg suffered in pre-season. The Trotters boss, while clearly delighted, admitted that the South Korean’s return is still a long way down the line.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed he expects Michael Essien to return to action again in mid-January. The Ghanaian has yet to appear this season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in pre-season training and the Blues boss is confident of a comeback in a month’s time:

We’re looking at mid-January, that’s the best we can think about. There was a setback at the beginning of December if I’m not wrong which took him back 10 days and that’s extended into January, so I don’t think he will go to the African Cup of Nations.