Week 17 - Update

As always I'll be adding to this post as the day goes on, but there is already some big news regarding injuries for this weekend's games including quite few that impact on my Week 17 Player Picks from Wednesday.

- As I mentioned earlier this week, Jose Bosingwa is out with a hamstring injury picked up in the Champions League so his place is likely to go to Paulo Ferreria. I'm sure you remember Bale tormenting Ferreria at White Hart Lane in Spurs 2-1 win last season and I'm obviously hoping it happens again!

- Asamoah Gyan is a big doubt for the game at Fulham, with the Sunderland official site stating "The Ghana international is expected to miss the game with a toe injury". This will be a big blow if it turns out to be the case as I know many managers have hung on to Gyan @ around £6m. The site also suggests Craig Gordon is a slight doubt with a hamstring injury.

- Similar news to last week - both Chris Brunt & Peter Odemwingie are doubts for West Brom's derby at Aston Villa, with Brunt's groin injury persisting & Odem also picking up a groin injury in last weekend's game. I'll quote something I read on Jeremy & Neal's blog:

Brunt has had the groin injury since the last international break but has been able to play in the matches. So I'm not worried about him. The Odemwingie injury seems new - as in recent, and different from his last knee injury - and will bear close scrutiny.

I agree 100% - as it's a derby game I think Brunt will battle on, but we're less certain on Odemwingie who hasn't trained all week, so I'd avoid him.

- Next up, Roy Hodgson has confirmed that Steven Gerrard will not be available for Liverpool's trip to Newcastle, which means Raul Meireles remains an excellent choice taking the majority of set pieces.

- Cesc Fabregas has a small chance of facing Manchester United on Monday night, but the Gunners have been doing ok without him so I don't see them taking that risk when it could see him sidelined again. Arsenal have lost far many players to re-occurring injuries by bringing them back too early.

- Kolo Toure has been passed fit so will partner Kompany in the centre of defence Manchester City's defence. This means Lescott, Zabaleta, Richards & the out-of-favour Boateng will battle it out for the full back spots. My own feeling is Richards will play right-back & Zabaleta left-back, but you never know with Mancini - we may hear more later today. Just to confirm as I still see people asking; Tevez & Kolarov are both suspended for this game.

- To clear up some confusion, Kevin Davies is NOT suspended. Yahoo stats show him accumulating 5 yellow cards in the league, but he also picked up bookings in early Carling Cup matches and served a ban in September.

UPDATES @ 12:00

- Van Der Vaart has failed to recover sufficiently from his hamstring injury in time for Chelsea this weekend but he's on the verge of a return to full training and could be ready for next weekend. Spurs are also missing Kranjcar, Jenas & King but Modric should return from a midweek bout of 'flu.

- Kevin Nolan should return for Newcastle but there is still a slight doubt over Joey Barton's fitness

- Heskey is back from injury & Ashley Young back from suspension for Villa, but Ciaran Clark is suspended.

UPDATES @ 14:00

- Stewart Holden may not be risked for Bolton's game vs Blackburn.

- Lampard is still not ready to return vs Spurs.

- Saha is a doubt, so knowing his injury history he won't be risked. Yak or Beckford to lead the line for Everton?

- Gabby Agbonlahor & Luke Young are out of the derby after a chest infection and hip injury respectively. Heskey or Carew will start upfront & Cuellar should come in at right back.

UPDATES @ 18:00

- Matt Jarvis, Michael Mancienne and Kevin Doyle are all doubts for Wolves.

- Salcido is back for Fulham but Dembele remains out. Pantsil likely to continue at right-back.

- Heitinga & Pienaar are doubts which means Rodwell is pretty much certain to start if you're looking for a bargain filler.

As for my own team, I had mess around last night and have this sitting on my page at the moment:

Robinson, Kolarov, Coleman, Bale, Van Der Vaart, Nasri, Silva, Etherington, Balotelli, Elmander, Torres

As you can see, I have downgraded Baines to Coleman in order to get Torres in, but it won't necessarily stay that way. Obviously Kolarov is out suspended & now it appears VDV will also miss out again, so I may need to make a change to avoid two zeros. I still hold Baines, Brunt, & Meireles behind the scenes & it's possible all 3 come back in for Coleman, Nasri & Torres - I'll decide later today but would be interested to hear people's opinions on which trio they'd go for?

That's it for now, but please keep checking back as the team news comes through thick and fast later today. If you read or hear anything of interest, please add it to the comments section below to help your fellow blog readers (and me!) :)

How's your team looking?

Cheers,
AM

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