Week 26 - Update

Less than 24 hours to go until deadline and news is starting to filter through from manager's press conferences around the country. The chances are you're waiting on that all important piece of information to help you make your final decisions, so lets get straight in to it...

- Slightly worrying news to start with seeing as many of us are holding him at a big discount - Charlie Adam is a doubt and faces a late fitness test before Blackpool's trip to Everton. With the team in a slump (6 defeats in 7 games) they really need their captain, so I think he'll play, but it is a concern. David Vaughan is also a doubt and Stephen Crainey is definitely out.

- Redknapp has confirmed Steven Pienaar is available following a concussion that caused him to miss the Blackburn game in midweek. He'll face Bolton along with Michael Dawson who returns from suspension. Luka Modric remains out after surgery to remove his appendix & Gareth Bale isn't quite ready, although he's running in training and should be back next weekend.

- Fernando Torres should make his Chelsea debut vs Liverpool on Sunday and he's likely to be joined in the starting line-up by David Luiz. It'll be interesting to see what he does defensively to accommodate Luiz; drop Ivanovic completely or move him out to right-back and drop Bosingwa? UPDATE: Ancelotti revealed Luiz is back in Portugal, so there's a doubt over whether he'll start.

- Luis Suarez should get his first start at Stamford Bridge after scoring on his debut from the bench in midweek.

- At Manchester City, Micah Richards is the only new injury doubt after his concussion suffered at Birmingham. De Jong should be fine & Yaya Toure is ready to return, but Balotelli & Adam Johnson remain sidelined.

- Alex Ferguson has revealed Rafael is ready to return to the starting XI after missing the last two games with concussion. Darren Fletcher is also OK despite being subbed off injured after 30 minutes in midweek.

- The decision to sell Andy Carroll is already starting to backfire on Newcastle, with the news Shola Ameobi will miss at least a month with a fractured cheekbone. They now have Nile Ranger, Leon Best & Peter Lovenkrands as forward options - ouch.

- Arsenal are without Samir Nasri, Alex Song & Denilson (and Vermaelen of course), but Squillaci is back from suspension. Arshavin has probably done enough to earn a start this week.

- Stoke have Ryan Shawcross back after he missed the previous two matches through suspension, while Matthew Etherington and Kenwyne Jones should come back in to the starting line-up after they were rested at Liverpool.

- Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole faces another month on the sidelines with his ongoing troublesome back injury, but Sulley Muntari is ready to make his debut for the Black Cats.

- Peter Odemwingie has shaken off his knock and is ready to face Manchester City this weekend, Graham Dorrans also has a chance but Jara & Cech are doubtful.

UPDATE: Full round up HERE

My team is still as it was yesterday:  

Howard, S.Caldwell, Kelly, Kolarov, Adam, Van Der Vaart, Lampard, Nani, Keane, Van Persie, Rooney

I'm likely to keep Keane over Dzeko unless I have a change of heart overnight, so the above could well be final.

How's your team looking?

Cheers,
AM

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