Premiership injuries / suspensions 17-19 October 2009

Premiership injuries / suspensions Team News 17-19 October 2009
 
Aston Villa v Chelsea
Villa continue without injured trio Curtis Davies(1gl),Ashley Young(1gl) and Stewart Downing when they take on table-toppers Chelsea.
Chelsea will again be missing the services of defender Alex, and also have doubts over Jose Bosingwa(1asst) & John Mikel Obi.
 
Arsenal v Birmingham
Arsenal host Birmingham without injured midfielder Denilson(1gl,1asst), along with Johan Djourou also missing.
However, they await the fitness of Theo Walcott(1gl),keeper Manuel Almunia,Fabianski & Sami Nasri before naming their squad. Manager Arsene Wenger must decide whether to retain impressive Vito Mannone in goal or switch to first choice Almunia.
Birmingham’s injuries have eased slightly but will travel still missing influential James McFadden(1gl) and defender Martin Taylor.
Midfielder Keith Fahey(1asst),strikers Cameron Jerome & Marcus Bent and defender David Murphy are all closing in on returns.
 
Everton v Wolves
Toffees defender Phil Jagielka is back in training with a view to returning mid-November so will again sit out the visit of Wolves on Saturday.
Midfielders Phil Neville and Mikel Arteta will also be missing, and there are doubts over the fitness of defender Joseph Yobo(1gl),Steven Pienaar and striker Victor Anichebe.
Wolves travel without Dave Jones,Stephen Ward and new signing Segundo Castillo as they bid to climb out of the early relegation places.
However, striker Chris Iwelumo,Andrew Surman and defender Richard Stearman(1gl) are all doubts.
 
Manchester Utd v Bolton
Manchester Utd have been dealt a major blow with leading scorer Wayne Rooney(6gls) out with a calf muscle strain.
He joins fellow striker Michael Owen(2gls) and midfielders Gabriel Obertan & Owen Hargreaves on the sidelines.
Bolton will be missing Sean Davis and Joey O`Brien, while Johan Elmander(1asst) is rated as doubtful ahead of their daunting trip to Old Trafford.
 
Portsmouth v Tottenham
Portsmouth ‘welcome’ back former manager Harry Redknapp when he brings his high-flying Tottenham side to Fratton Park.
It’s likely to be a highly charged atmosphere, but Pompey need to focus on the priority of gaining a much-needed 3 points.
They will be without defender Linvoy Primus again, and will be sweating on the fitness of midfielder Papa Bouba Diop,Joel Ward,Richard Hughes and Hermann Hreidarsson. Jamie O`Hara is also unavailable due to his loan deal from Tottenham.
Spurs will travel without defender Jonathan Woodgate,Luka Modric(1asst) and Dos Santos.
Ledley King and want-away striker Roman Pavlyuchenko(1asst) may have to pass late fitness tests.
 
Stoke City v West Ham
Stoke striker Mamady Sidibe is on the road to recovery at last, but this game will come too soon as he builds up match fitness after being out since March this year.
Diego Arismendi also misses out, while Abdoulaye Faye(1gl) remains sidelined for some time, as The Potters look to put some serious daylight between them and the teams occupying the relegation zone.
The Hammers will be without Scott Parker who is suspended, along with usual suspects Dean Ashton and Luis Boa Morte.
Kieron Dyer,Daniel Gabbidon and Jack Collison are doubts.

Sunderland v Liverpool
Sunderland will be without suspended Kieran Richardson when Liverpool come to town.
New signing John Mensah and Lee Cattermole(2assts) are hoping to be fit.
Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani is nearing a return but this will come too soon for him.
Also Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos looks likely to miss the trip to Sunderland after being injured midweek against Luxembourg.
The Reds are also desperately hoping Steven Gerrard(3gls,4assts) & Fernando Torres(8gls,1asst) are fit for the trip.
 
Blackburn Rovers v Burnley
Blackburn first choice keeper Paul Robinson is doubtful with a hip injury ahead of the Lancashire derby with near rivals Blackburn.
Striker Benny McCarthy has been ruled out, while Steven Reid and defenders Christopher Samba(1gl) & Ryan Nelsen are all doubtful.
Burnley travel seeking their first goal away from home,but will have to do so without strikers Martin Paterson and Jay Rodriguez.
Kevin McDonald and Chris McCann are also ruled out, but Fernando Guerrero is hoping to make it.
 
Wigan v Manchester City
Wigan entertain close rivals Man City in the second derby match of the Premiership this weekend.
Boss Roberto Martinez has no new injury worries as they look to upset top-4 wannabe’s City.
City meanwhile have a string of injuries to contend with; Kolo Toure,Pablo Zabaleta,Nigel de Jong,Nedum Onuoha and Benjani will all miss out.
They also have doubts over Joleon Lescott,Robinho and Vincent Kompany.
 
Fulham v Hull City
Fulham keeper David Stockdale has been ruled out for the visit of fellow strugglers Hull City,along with Damien Duff(1gl) and Toni Kallio. Simon Davies looks likley to also miss out as they seek a much needed win.
Hull are still seeking their first away win of the season but they will be without skipper Ian Ashbee and Richard Garcia.
The match may come too soon also for Liam Cooper and Anthony Gardner as they try to recover from a hamstring and knee injury respectively.