Aaron Ramsey is expected to shake off a thigh complaint in time for Arsenal’s trip to Swansea. Steve Bruce reveals Robbie Brady is nursing a hernia problem. Danny Rose is likely to return for Tottenham, West Brom have concerns up front as they head to Old Trafford, Bryan Ruiz requires a late fitness test ahead of Fulham’s clash with Cardiff, while Palace welcome back Joel Ward but lose Damien Delaney for the trip to Southampton:

Arsene Wenger had plenty midfield issue to discuss in this morning’s press conference. The Gunners boss has revealed Theo Walcott is “realistically five weeks away” from a return to the first-team fold, though Santi Cazorla could be back after the international break. Wenger also revealed both Mathieu Flamini and Aaron Ramsey will be assessed prior to tomorrow’s trip to Swansea – Flamini has “a small shoulder problem”, while Ramsey, according to his manager, “has a little thigh problem but should be alright”. While the Ramsey prognosis seems positive, it is, nonethleless the 730,000+ Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers who have drafted the Welshman in over the last forthnight.

Having recently lost James Chester and Robert Koren for up to two months through injury, Hull boss Steve Bruce has admitted he is monitoring Robbie Brady’s condition, with the winger suffering from a hernia problem. At present, Bruce remains positive over Brady’s availability and is still uncertain whether the former United man will need to go under the knife to resolve the issue:

“Robbie has a problem that will obviously need to be sorted out sooner or later. We shall continue to monitor him and see how he goes and, at this stage, it is touch and go whether or not he will need an operation. The last thing you need after just coming up from the Championship is injuries to key players – and we have already got two key men ruled out for lengthy spells. Losing these lads is a big blow, but now we have just got to get on with it and hope we don’t have any more bad luck on the injury front.”

The Baggies have worries over a couple of forwards for their trip to Old Trafford this weekend. Nicolas Anelka and Victor Anichebe are both uncertain to feature against the champions – Steve Clarke could be set to field Shane Long as the lone forward if he retains the 4-2-3-1 system that proved so successful against Sunderland last weekend. Chris Brunt remains sidelined with a groin injury, though, with Scott Sinclair likely to benefit with another start on the left.

Andre Villas-Boas is confient of welcoming back Danny Rose to the Tottenham fold for tomorrow lunchtime’s clash against Chelsea at the Lane. The left-back has missed the last two games in all competitions with a toe problem but according to his manager:

“For Danny, there is a 90 per cent chance that he will make the game, so that gives us options down that flank.”

Rose should wrestle the starting role from Kyle Naughton, though Villas-Boas still has doubts over Younes Kaboul’s availability due to a thigh problem. Michael Dawson is set to continue in central defence, though Vlad Chiriches made his debut in the midweek cup win at Villa and offers an alternative.

Paul Lambert has a number of concerns as Villa prepare for the visit of City. The midlands club are, of course, without Christian Benteke for Saturday’s home clash with Manuel Pellegrini’s men but Lambert revealed the Belgian isn’t the only player he could be missing. Ashley Westwood remains a real doubt with the thigh problem that kept him out of last week’s win at Norwich while Gabby Agbonlahor, Antonio Luna, Fabian Delph and Ciaran Clark all picked up problems in the Canaries win and were omitted from the side that lost to Spurs in the cup earlier this week. The Villa boss remains optimistic, however, that the latter quartet will be ready in time and was also positive on a quicker-than-expected return for Benteke, going on to say:

“He is doing great and I think he will be back quicker. He is doing really fine now and seems a lot happier within himself. We just have to wait and see. We’ve got two games before the international break. The international break has probably come at the right time for him and for us and he is doing great at the minute. The worst fear was that he was going to be out for considerable time but the way he is progressing, I think everybody is pretty happy.”

Crystal Palace will be without centre-half Damien Delaney for tomorrow’s trip to Southampton. The defender was subbed off with an ankle injury in last week’s home defeat by Swansea and was initially expected to be facing a long spell on the sidelines but Ian Holloway suggested he has “half a chance” of making next week’s trip to Liverpool. Joel Ward is back for the Eagles, though, and will return at right-back, allowing Adrian Mariappa to move inside and partner Danny Gabbidon at centre-half.

Martin Jol could be set to welcome back Aaron Hughes and Bryan Ruiz to the Fulham fold this weekend. The Cottagers boss explained yesterday:

“Aaron will join us tomorrow and he will do a fitness test. Bryan is the same – I think he could be involved but we are not 100 per cent certain yet because he hasn’t trained with me, so he will join us on Friday.”

Fulham will be without Maarten Stekelenburg, Matthew Briggs and Ashkan Dejagah once again, though, with David Stockdale again benefitting from the Dutchman’s shoulder injury absence.