Injury Update 16-09-09

I discovered the following information after I had written the about Arsenal's Champions League squad in my previous post this morning...

While Carlos Tevez is battling to be fit for Manchester City, United's main concern ahead of Sunday's derby is the fitness of Rio Ferdinand. He shrugged off a calf injury to face Tottenham on Saturday but then picked up a different ailment ahead of the Besiktas game.

"We'll have to wait and see [whether Ferdinand will play against City]," Ferguson told Sky Sports. "He felt his groin in training after the game on Saturday and it wasn't worth the risk.

"He couldn't even make the bench, so we'll just have to give him time for Sunday."

The news on Tevez is not good, with Manchester City assistant boss Mark Bowen admitting the Argentine is "very doubtful" for the Old Trafford clash.

"He is back here today and we'll assess it from there, but he is very doubtful," he told the club's website. "What we are hearing is that it's probably going to keep him out, but until the doctor assesses him hands-on we don't really know.

"We have been in contact with the Argentina medical team, as has our medical team. But the signs are not encouraging. We wouldn't 100% rule him out yet - fingers crossed and we are always hopeful, but it's very doubtful."

Bowen was pleased to report that Roque Santa Cruz has started training following knee surgery this summer but the Paraguayan is unlikely to face United, while Stephen Ireland should be okay to play.

Good news at Chelsea is that Joe Cole could return to action against Tottenham on Sunday after making an unexpected appearance on the Blues' bench for their win against Porto. He has not played since damaging his knee ligaments in January.

Cole is likely to be on the bench, with Deco possibly restored to the starting line-up after a calf problem kept him out of that win over Besiktas.

Over to Arsenal and Manuel Almunia, Denilson and Robin van Persie have been added to a lengthy injury list. Almunia has a chest infection while the other two have slight injuries that should not keep them out of Saturday's clash with Wigan.

"From Saturday we lost Robin van Persie with a knee problem but it is a question of days for him," Arsene Wenger told the club's official website. "As for Denilson, I took him off on Saturday for a back problem. It is a question of days again for him."

Theo Walcott could also return from his back injury for that game against the Latics at the Emirates.

Great news for Wolves fans - Michael Kightly has come through almost an hour of reserve-team football, six months after suffering a broken foot. He could make it onto the bench for this Sunday's clash with Fulham.

Down at Portsmouth, new signing Aruna Dindane has been put on what Paul Hart describes as "two weeks' physical training" in an effort to get him fit, while Steve Finnan could finally make his Pompey debut this weekend against Villa after a hamstring injury delayed his start to the season.

Up at Sunderland, the headline news is that Darren Bent should be fit for Saturday at Burnley despite picking up a slight groin problem last week. Lee Cattermole and Phil Bardsley should also be fine while Marton Fulop misses out and the game will come slightly too soon for George McCartney, who has a hamstring problem.

And finally, Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer is facing what newspapers like to call 'a race against time' to play CSKA Sofia in the Europa League on Thursday. The Australian missed the game against Everton with a neck problem and was replaced by David Stockdale.

So "it is a question of days" for Van Persie who looks likely to be ready for the weekend...interesting news on Walcott, but surely he'd likely be on the bench after such a long time out? It could well affect Rosicky too, so lots to think about.

Also, good news about Joe Cole's return for Chelsea - he's one of my favourite players to watch and not a bad fantasy points scorer. However, he's surely going to struggle to get regular football with the squad already overloaded with quality midfielders?

Cheers,
AM