premiership suspensions

Premiership Teams – Injuries/Suspensions – weekend 17-19 january 2009
 
Arsenal
Alexandre Song faces late fitness test, while Gallas(2 gls), Silvestre(1 assist,1gl), Fabregas(3 assists,1gl), Rosicky & Walcott(1 assist,1gl) are all out.
However, Van Persie(4 assists,8 gls), Adebayor(4 assists,7gls) & late goal specialist Bendtner(2 assists,2gls) are all set to feature.
 
West Brom
West Brom are likely to struggle without key players Miller(1 assist,3gls), Morrison (2 assists,3 gls) & Bednar(1 assist,6gls).
Meite, Clement,Teixera & Zuiverloon(1 assist) are all doubtful.
Jay Simpson has made a lively start since moving from Arsenal, but without vital link-up players such as Bednar & creative source Morrison, a rare away victory for Middlesbrough is certainly on the cards.
 
Bolton
The Trotters are without Elmander(5gls) & long-term absentee Vaz Te, along with suspended influential midfielder Nolan(2 assists).
Gary Cahill(3 assists,2gls), Cohen & O’Brien(2 assists) are all doubtful for the home tie against Man Utd.
 
Stoke City
Stoke face an uphill task away to Chelsea without suspended top-scorer Fuller(1 assist,6gls) & doubtful duo Sidibe(1 assist,3gls) & Diao. Dickinson(1 assist) has gone on a month’s loan to Leeds.
However, James Beattie(3 assists,12gls from Sheff Utd) is set to make his debut for the Potters.
 
Everton
The Toffees have 7 players out; Yobo, Yakubu(1 assist,4gls),Saha(1 assist,3gls),Vaughan,Valente,Jacobsen & suspended Fellaini(4gls).
Whilst Arteta(5 assists,5gls) plays though, Everton always have a chance particularly from free kick situations with aerial threat of Lescott(2 assists,3gls) & Cahill(3 assists,4gls).

Blackburn
Dunn(1gl) & want-away R Santa Cruz(1 assist,3gls) face late fitness tests. Reid(1 asst) is sidelined for 5 mnths.
With McCarthy(1 asst,5gls) not firing, Blackburn may have to settle for a single goal victory over an injury-ravaged Newcastle.
 
Hull
Folan(1 gl),Dawson(3 assts) & Gardner face late fitness tests, while McShane(1gl) returns to Sunderland.
Boateng(1 asst) is out for around 3 mnths.
Zayatte(1 asst,1gl) is suspended.
 
Fulham
The Cottagers are set to be without influential Bullard(3 assts,2gls) & Kamara.
Dempsey(4gls) is in good form at the moment, but Fulham may well have to settle for an away draw at best against an in-form West Ham.
 
Middlesbrough
Boro travel to West Brom with a good chance of coming away with something.
Aliadiere(1 asst,2gls),J Hoyte(1 asst) & Walker are all out.
Pogatetz(1 gl) is doubtful.
However in-form Downing(3 assts) will play, and with Alves(1 asst,4gls) & fit again O’Neil(1 asst,2gls),Boro will see this game as an opportunity to widen the gap above the relegation zone.
 
Tottenham
Hutton is out for 3 mnths, whilst Jenas(3 assts,2gls) is rated doubtful against what promises to be an interesting encounter against Portsmouth.
Assou-Ekotto completes a 4 match ban & is suspended.
A single piece of magic by Pavlyuchenko(3 gls) might just seperate the two teams.
 
West Ham
Only Ashton(2gls) & Gabbidon are out, as West Ham look to continue their good run.
A resurgent Carlton Cole(3 assts,6gls) may well have an impact upon this game.
 
Wigan
No injuries or suspensions to report.
 
Sunderland
Black Cats are missing McCartney & Ward through injury.
Craig Gordon is doubtful.
Their biggest loss though is suspended Malbranque(8 assts,1gl) as the supply to Cisse(8gls) & Jones(5gls) looks to be severely limited.
 
Liverpool
Reds manager Benitez seems intent on disrupting the team harmony at Anfield with recent comments & rejecting a new deal.
Alonso(1 asst,2gls), Arbeloa(1 asst,1gl) & Agger(2 assts) are doubtful at this stage.
Liverpool may have to settle for another draw against Merseyside rivals Everton – depends which Torres(1 asst,5gls) & Gerrard(5 assts,8gls) turn up.
 
Chelsea
The Blues look to be without Joe Cole(4 assts,2gls), Deco(2 assts,3gls) & long-term absentee Essien for home tie against Stoke.
However, with the likes of Ballack(2 assts), Lampard(4 assts,8gls) & Anelka(14gls) at their disposal, Chelsea will see this game as a must-win 3 pts.
 
Portsmouth
Portsmouth should welcome back Davis(1 asst,1 gl) & Nugent after a virus & injury respectively.
Bouba Diop remains sidelined as Portsmouth take on former manager Harry Redknapp & player, Jermaine Defoe.
 
Aston Villa
John Carew(2 assts,5gls) is back in training but this game is too soon for a return. Bouma is also out.
But Agbonlahor(3 assts,9gls), Barry(4 assts,3gls) & Ashley Young(5 assts,5gls), might feel they can just nick this one away at Sunderland.
 
Man City
Shaun Wright-Phillips(3 assts,3gls) faces a late fitness test.
Hammann, Benjani(1 gl), M Petrov, Johnson & Bojinov are all out, but haven’t made a massive impact between them.
However, Robinho(3 assts,11gls) is set to return, and Sturridge(3 assts,3gls) will look to take his chance.
Stephen Ireland(6 assts,7gls) is suspended for this game though, so City will need to look elsewhere for inspiration.
Wing-back Wayne Bridge set to make his City debut.
 
Man Utd
United are without a host of key players; Evra(2 assts), Rooney(4 assts,5gls), Ferdinand, Brown(1 gl) & Hargreaves all injured.
They will be sweating on the fitness of Tevez(1 asst,2gls) & Evans who both limped off during their midweek clash against Wigan.
However, Ronaldo(4 assts,8gls) & Berbatov(7 assts,4gls) remain a massive threat to Bolton.
 
Newcastle
The Toon have a whole team (11 players) unavailable through injury; notably Martins(2 assts,6gls) & Geremi(3 assts).
Newcastle struggle to score goals at the moment and it’s difficult to see this changing away at Blackburn, with only Owen(8gls) looking any kind of threat.