Nani is expected to return to training next week, according to Sir Alex Ferguson. Martin Kelly has recovered in time for Liverpool’s game with Wigan, Darron Gibson could return for Everton, Emmanuel Adebayor is still a doubt for Spurs, while John Terry is back for Chelsea.
Sir Alex Ferguson afforded a handful of his first-team squad a run-out for United reserves in the win over Villa last night. The likes of Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Fabio and Tom Cleverley were all involved, as was Paul Pogba. Ferguson confirmed the latter was subbed off as he intends to give him some game time against Fulham on Monday evening. The United boss also went on to say he expects both Nani and Michael Owen to return to training next week, casting doubts over the winger’s availability for the Old Trafford clash with the Cottagers.
Ferguson was also full of praise for the central defensive partnership struck up by Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand, in light of Nemanja Vidic’s season-ending knee injury. On the subject of Evans, the United boss went on to say:
He’s playing regularly and I think that helps. He is still a young player of course and when they get runs of games it helps with their consistency.His partnership with Rio has been very good. A lot of it has to do with Rio actually because he’s really helped Jonny. Jonny’s always had terrific ability and it’s good to see he’s in consistent form.
Kenny Dalglish has this morning revealed that Martin Kelly is “okay” and expected to be fit to face Wigan, after being subbed off with a knock in Wednesday’s loss at QPR. The Liverpool boss conceded he is still waiting on a fitness update on Charlie Adam – the former Blackpool was taken off at half-time at Loftus Road after twisting his knee.
Darron Gibson could be set for a return to the Everton fold this weekend, as the Toffees make their way to Swansea. The Irishman has missed the last four with a knee problem but David Moyes admitted earlier that he’s hoping the midfielder will make the trip to Wales. Moyes is clearly a big fan of the former United man, going on to say:
I think we have missed him because of what he gives us. I think he will improve and we will get used to him and when he played we were unbeaten in that period. It is difficult to weigh up exactly his importance but it may be next season before we get the best of him
Both Jack Rodwell and Seamus Coleman are struggling to make tomorrow’s game; the club’s official site revealed they are both “likely to be missing”, with hamstring and thigh injuries respectively.
Gael Givet is a doubt for Blackburn’s trip to Bolton. Steve Kean revealed the defender irritated a previous hamstring injury while warming up at half-time in Tuesday’s win over Sunderland. Givet has dropped down in the pecking order of late, though, and has failed to feature in Rovers’ last four games; with the side returning back-to-back clean sheets in the last couple of games, his absence is unlikely to affect Kean’s plans for the Lancashire derby.
Aaron Lennon will miss Tottenham’s lunchtime date at the Bridge tomorrow, after the club revealed he has failed to recover from an ongoing hamstring problem. The former Leeds man has been plagued with the issue all season and has started just four times since the end of Gameweek 14 in a frustrating stop-start campaign. Emmanuel Adebayor is still a doubt for Harry Redknapp’s side, having missed Wednesday’s home draw with Stoke due to a hamstring problem.
Charles N’Zogbia is a doubt for Villa’s trip to Arsenal tomorrow. Alex McLeish revealed he is sweating on the winger’s fitness after he picked up a knee problem in training on Thursday morning:
I hope he is all right, but he picked up a little knock in training yesterday morning. Charles had a clash of knees with one of the other players and he’s tweaked his ligament. Hopefully it will settle down before tomorrow.
Roberto Di Matteo revealed that John Terry is available for tomorrow’s match against Tottenham. The Chelsea skipper has recovered from the knee injury that caused him to miss out in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss at Chelsea, though Branislav Ivanovic remains a doubt, after being subbed off early at the Etihad due to a muscle injury. Di Matteo also revealed that Oriol Romeu has returned to full fitness- the midfielder has been bothered with a hamstring injury and has yet to feature under the Italian.
