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Premiership injuries / suspensions Team News 21-22 November 2009

Liverpool v Manchester City
Liverpool will be without suspended defender Phillip Degen, along with creative players Yossi Benayoun(3gls,3assts) & Alberto Riera(3assts), while top scorer Fernando Torres(10gls,1asst) is about a week away from full fitness.
Fabio Aurelio & Steven Gerrard(4gls,4assts) should be fit to play, but Gerrard may have to come off the bench this week.
Man City are waiting on Gareth Barry(1gl,2assts) to pass a late fitness test to face former prospective employers Liverpool.
However, the game will be too soon I suspect for a return for striker Robinho and midfielder Martin Petrov(3gls,2assts) who have been carrying ankle & groin injuries respectively.
 
Birmingham v Fulham
The Blues have another striker problem in Garry O`Connor(1gl) as he now faces a four month lay-off after groin surgery complications. Birmingham have struggled to hit the net this season and this will add pressure on Benitez(1gl,1asst) & Jerome(1gl,1asst) to perform. Midfielder Keith Fahey(1asst) and defender Martin Taylor are battling to be fit for the visit of Fulham. Defender David Murphy continues to be sidelined indefinitely.
Fulham forward Diomansy Kamara(1gl) is ruled out while former Blues striker Andy Johnson(1asst) will need a late fitness test.
Midfielder Danny Murphy(2gls) is about a week away from returning and Fulham could miss him in set-piece scenarios here.
Blues need a win to pull away from the relegation zone, but I fear a low-scoring game is on the cards here.
 
Burnley v Aston Villa
Burnley will still be missing striker Martin Paterson and midfielder Chris McCann when they host Villa this weekend.
Otherwise, Burnley have no other injury worries to report.
Villa have doubts over James Collins(1gl) and striker Emile Heskey(1asst), but defender Curtis Davies(1gl) and winger Stewart Downing still continue their stint in the treatment room.
 
Chelsea v Wolves
Leaders Chelsea will be hoping it’s a case of wolves to the slaughter here when they entertain struggling Wolves at Stamford Bridge, looking to extend their 100% home record.
However, they have a few injury concerns; John Terry(1gl), leading scorer Didier Drogba(9gls,5assts),Michael Ballack(3gls,2assts) & Ashley Cole(2gls,1asst) are all doubts.
Jose Bosingwa(1asst) and Frank Lampard(4gls,7assts) are both definitely out.
Wolves are not without injury problems either – Matt Hill,striker Chris Iwelumo,David Jones and Stephen Ward are all out, while Kevin Foley is rated doubtful.
Chelsea’s depth in squad should see them through comfortably here.
 
Hull City v West Ham Utd
Hull entertain fellow strugglers West Ham in what is considered to be an early relegation six-pointer.
Hull will be sweating on the fitness of regular first choice keeper Boaz Myhill, with Matt Duke waiting in the wings if Myhill doesn’t make it.
Skipper Ian Ashbee continues his lengthy lay-off with a cartilage tear. Hull will be bouyed though with the increasing return to fitness of influential midfielder Jimmy Bullard.
West Ham striker Dean Ashton is sadly expected to announce his retirement from the game due to a long lay-off this weekend and it will be interesting to see how The Hammers react to this.
Callum Davenport and Luis Boa Morte will still be missing, but Zola will delay naming his squad with Junior Stanislas(1gl),James Tomkins,Herita Ilunga(1asst),Carlton Cole(6gls,1asst) & Kieron Dyer all having to prove their fitness.
Hull might just sneak the 3 points in this one.
 
Sunderland v Arsenal
Sunderland will be missing striker Kenwyne Jones(5gls) who is suspended.
The Black Cats will also be missing keeper Craig Gordon and highly rated midfielder Lee Cattermole(2assts) as they look to build on their promising home form.
Boudewijn Zenden and John Mensah could both return to the side.
The phrase "free-scoring Arsenal" would have been a collector’s piece back in George Graham’s days, but this season they have netted 36 times already.
However, they look to be seriously reduced in numbers this weekend with Kieran Gibbs,leading scorer Robin Van Persie(7gls,7assts) out for 6 weeks,Gael Clichy,Jack Wilshere,Nicklas Bendtner(1gl,1asst),Denilson(1gl,1asst) & Johan Djourou all sidelined.
Abou Diaby(3gls) and Theo Walcott(1gl) could return along with Carlos Vela.
 
Manchester Utd v Everton
Man Utd will be without Gary Neville(1asst) who is suspended.
John O`Shea(1gl,1asst) will also be missing along with fringe striker Danny Welbeck, while Owen Hargreaves is about a week away.
Jonathan Evans,Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand are all close to returns.
Everton have Russian Diniyar Bilyaletdinov(2gls) suspended, and will also be without first choice keeper Tim Howard,Leon Osman(1gl),Phil Neville,Victor Anichebe,Phil Jagielka and Mikel Arteta.
Carlo Nash could deputise in goal for The Toffees as Man Utd look to close the gap on leaders Chelsea.
 
Bolton v Blackburn
The Trotters welcome Rovers to the Reebok Stadium in an all-Lancashire derby which will pull no punches.
They will be without Sean Davis & Joey O`Brien, while Tamir Cohen(3gls,1asst) and Danny Shittu are both battling to be fit.
Blackburn only have Martin Olsson and Vince Grella as doubts, while midfielder Steven Reid has joined QPR on loan to regain full match fitness.
Blackburn will be hoping to end their wretched away form of a 5 match losing streak.
 
Tottenham v Wigan
Spurs keeper Carlo Cudicini is ruled out for about 6 months following a car crash,while Luka Modric(1asst) is still sidelined after a broken leg.
Sebastien Bassong(1gl),Aaron Lennon(2gls,3assts) and Dos Santos are all struggling to be fit.
Wigan’s only injury appears to be defender Maynor Figueroa(1asst) who will be missed at the back for The Latics.
Tottenham could move into second place depending on other results.
 
Stoke City v Portsmouth
Stoke midfielder Abdoulaye Faye(1gl) is suspended,and striker Mamady Sidibe and Salif Diao are both ruled out.
Another striker, Dave Kitson(2gls) has been loaned out to Middlesbrough in a puzzling move as Stoke look to be low on forward options, placing an unnecessary burden on James Beattie and this could backfire on them when they host bottom of the league Pompey.
Portsmouth are suffering with injury problems though in addition to a transfer ban imposed on them following owing debts.
Papa Bouba Diop,John Utaka,Steve Finnan and Linvoy Primus are all sidelined, while Hassan Yebda(1gl),leading scorer Aruna Dindane(3gls,2assts) and Joel Ward are all racing to be fit.