Premier League team news May 2nd + 3rd

Lucas and Gerrard back to light up Reds midfield

Injuries & Suspensions

Barclays Premier League

 

Saturday May 2nd

 

Leicester v Newcastle (kick off 12:45)

Leicester will delay naming their starting XI until they know the fate of Robert Huth and Andy King. Both are nursing calf and hamstring strains respectively and will need to pass a fitness test on Saturday morning. However, a calf problem will definitely keep David Nugent out of the matchday squad, while Jeff Schlupp has recovered from a similar problem and is available for selection.

Newcastle will be boosted by the return from a suspension of Moussa Sissoko to bolster their midfield. Paul Drummett joins him in the squad after shaking off a knee injury, while Siem de Jong has seen no ill effects from his goalscoring return last weekend, and even played a further 90 minutes for the U-21 side midweek.

 

 

Aston Villa v Everton (kick off 15:00)

Aston Villa will again take to the field without Gabriel Agbonlahor – the forward is still nursing a hamstring problem and has not resumed training yet. However, Alan Hutton is back in training after recovering from an ankle injury but is not yet included in the match day squad. Philippe Senderos is back in the fray once again after shrugging off a thigh problem, but Ciaran Clark and Nathan Baker are definite absentees.

Steven Pienaar is still handling a muscle problem and is not on the Everton team bus. Bryan Oviedo is out for the remainder of the season with a broken foot, and will be left at home alongside Darron Gibson, who has a similar injury, and Tony Hibbert.

 

 

Liverpool v QPR (kick off 15:00)

After being absent for the last three matches, Lucas Leiva returns to add steel to the Liverpool midfield. Steven Gerrard is also expected to return to the Reds starting line up, while Albert Moreno is also available for selection again. Mario Balotelli is out with a foot injury, Jon Flanagan is out for at least six months with a knee injury and Mamadou Sakho is still on the casualty list with a hamstring strain.

QPR will definitely have Leroy Fer back in the squad but Bobby Zamora will have to pass a fitness test on Saturday morning on a hip injury. Eduardo Vargas and Alejandro Faurlin are definitely ruled out with knee injuries, and although Rio Ferdinand is back in training he won’t feature on Saturday.

 

 

 

Sunderland v Southampton (kick off 15:00)

Sunderland will include Adam Johnson in the squad set to entertain Southampton, even though he’s facing police charges. Sebastien Larsson is back from a ban, but definitely missing out this weekend are Steven Fletcher (ankle), Wes Brown (knee), Ricky Alvarez (knee) and Emanuele Giaccherini (ankle).

Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin won’t be seen in a Saints shirt until next season due to a serious knee injury. Dudas Tadic is out with a groin problem but Victor Wanyama returns from a suspension. Remaining on the casualty list are Jay Rodriguez and Fraser Forster.

 

 

 

Swansea v Stoke (kick off 15:00)

Neil Taylor is back from a ban and will feature for Swansea – Jordi Amat will make way at left-back for him. Jefferson Montero will be included after recovering from a thigh strain and is joined by Modou Barrow after he was recalled from his loan spell at Nottingham forest. Definitely absent this weekend are Bafetimbi Gomis (hamstring), Kyle Naughton (ankle), Tom Carroll (ankle) and Wayne Routledge (ankle).

Charlie Adam received a broken nose in training this week but will line up for Stoke on Saturday wearing a protective mask. Geoff Cameron is carrying a hamstring injury and will face an early test. Peter Odemwingie will occupy a place on the substitute bench.

 

 

 

West Ham v Burnley (kick off 15:00)

West Ham have no fresh concerns to deal with as they welcome struggling Burnley to Upton Park. Teenager Reece Burke will start after impressing last weekend but definitely not involved on Saturday are Winston Reid (hamstring), James Tomkins (shoulder) and Guy Demel (calf). Alex Song has recovered from a back issue and should be in the match day squad but on the long-term casualty list are still Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho.

Burnley will recall Ashley Barnes after suspension while Sam Vokes will face a late fitness test on a thigh injury. Long-term knee injury victims Dean Marney and Kevin Long remain sidelined.

 

 

 

Manchester United v WBA (kick off 17:30)

Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney has been passed fit to face West Brom after recovering from a knee injury sustained last weekend. Phil Jones is back training but this game comes too soon for the defender. Long-term casualties remain Luke Shaw (groin), Marco Rojo (adductor), Jonny Evans (nerve), Rafael (rib) and Michael Carrick (calf).

The West Brom squad are carrying knocks to several unnamed players – manager Tony Pulis wouldn’t give names at his pre-match press conference. However, Youssouf Mulumbu is back from a ban and James Morrison will face a test on a head injury. The Baggies long-term casualty remains Ben Foster (knee).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday May 3rd

 

Chelsea v Crystal Palace (kick off 13:30)

Diego Costa has been struggling with a hamstring problem all season and will probably not feature for Chelsea again during this campaign. Thibaut Courtois has recovered from a minor hip injury and could be re-instated while Loic Remy is back after a calf problem.

Maraoune Chamakh is close to a Crystal Palace return after a recent hamstring injury but is lacking fitness. Frazier Campbell is out with his own hamstring problem, and will be left in the physio room alongside Joel Ward (shin).

 

 

 

Tottenham v Manchester City (kick off 16:00)

Danny Rose has been missing from the Spurs set up recently with a hamstring strain but could be in the match day squad on Sunday. Ben Davies dislocated his shoulder last weekend and will miss out, while other notable absentees are Kyle Walker, Emmanuel Adebayor and Younes Kaboul.

Manchester City’s influential midfielder Yaya Toure will be absent on Sunday due to a hamstring injury. He joins Vincent Kompany in the treatment room. Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy are back in the fray following their recent knocks leaving, but Stevan Jovetic will again miss out through injury.