Injury Update 12/02/10

Injury news from football365.com

Fernando Torres is being tipped to make a shock return for Liverpool in their critical Premier League match at Manchester City next weekend.

The Daily Mail reports that he has 'stepped up his fight for fitness and started running again' after a month on the sidelines.

'Torres was given the all-clear to begin running on Tuesday and was seen lapping the pitches at their Melwood training headquarters without any ill-effects,' the newspaper discloses.

However, as The Sun remarks, 'it is at the other end where the Reds are struggling ahead of the vital Premier League clash, which they cannot afford to lose.'

Sotirios Kyrgiakos will still be suspended for the trip to Eastlands while 'Jamie Carragher is battling to make the game after limping out of Wednesday's defeat at Arsenal with a damaged groin. There are fears it could keep him out for 10 days - which would take him right to the wire as far as the City game is concerned.'

Ryan Giggs' injury woe may not be as bad as first feared. Though Manchester United reported on Thursday that Giggs would be out for a month having fractured his arm against Aston Villa, the day closed with Sir Alex Ferguson voicing his optimism that the Welshman will be back in action for the second-leg tie with AC Milan in the Champions League on March 10.

"Ryan's had a plate put in his arm which will stay there for 2½ weeks. He will still be able to train and he might be available for the second leg against Milan but it's a long haul," said Fergie.

Due to their early exit from the FA Cup, United have the weekend off and The Times says that 'Ferguson will be planning to recall Rio Ferdinand, suspended for four domestic matches, and Nemanja Vidic, after a nerve injury, for next week's return to European competition.'

The day ends in y so here's the inevitable bad news for Arsenal. According to John Cross of the Daily Mirror, who tends to have the inside line at the Emirates, Andrei Arshavin has been ruled out for ten days with his hamstring injury, meaning he 'will miss the trip to Porto next week and is a major doubt for the Premier League clash with Sunderland.'

And there's more bad news to report: 'Midfielder Alex Song is also a doubt for next Wednesday's Champions League trip to Porto after damaging knee ligaments against Liverpool.

'Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is hoping that Song's injury is not as bad as Arshavin's but both would have been definite starters for the Porto game.'

At least Samir Nasri has been cleared to feature after being given the all-clear following his head injury against Liverpool on Wednesday night.

From Chelsea's perspective, the announcement that Ashley Cole will be out for three months with a broken ankle effectively means that he will not play for the club again until next season.

'Medical staff at Stamford Bridge have effectively discounted Cole from further involvement in the Barclays Premier League title race,' notes The Times.

'Yuri Zhirkov is likely to cover at left back for the immediate future, perhaps including the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie against Inter Milan, but Ancelotti will also consider switching Branislav Ivanovic to the left flank and using Paulo Ferreira, Alex or, when he is fit, Michael Essien at right back.'

It's annoying that Zhirkov is listed as a midfielder, but he's still a great filler. Also, with Giggs & Nani out, Valencia is surely a must for Week 23.

Cheers,
AM