Dirk Kuyt will miss Liverpool's next two games with an ankle injury sustained playing for Holland at the weekend.
Although a scan has revealed the injury is not as serious as first thought, strained ankle ligaments will keep him out of the home game with Blackburn on Saturday and next Wednesday's Champions League trip to Bordeaux.
Liverpool hope Kuyt may recover in time to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on October 22.
McClaren, aware of the abundance of centre-halves at his disposal, is determined that England will experiment with different formations before Euro 2008.Huh? (and forgive me that this isn't strictly fantasy Premiership, but still) You read the first part and think, "abundance of centre-halves", ok... Terry, Ferdinand, King,
With Gary Neville deployed as the right-sided central defender...
Blackburn defender Andre Ooijer has claimed he was forced out of PSV Eindhoven after the club failed to keep their word over a new contract.The way he's played in the EPL, I can understand their reluctance to keep him. From the man himself,
Unlucky? Like I expected? At least Bramble has the good sense to keep his mouth shut and just let his football do the talking... even though what it says isn't pretty."I had a bit of an unlucky start but things are going well now," he said. "I scored an own goal and I conceded two penalties.
"But my overall game isn't bad. It is somewhat like I expected," added Ooijer
I wouldn't stick either into your lineup just yet, but again, it is something to note and look out for. When healthy, what is Arsene's first-choice back four? Eboue and Toure, sure. But does Senderos start at center back and if so, does Gallas play on the left?Arsenal duo Gael Clichy and Philippe Senderos made comebacks from injury in the reserve-team victory over West Ham at Upton Park.
Neither defender has played in the first team this season, and full-back Clichy came off at half-time as planned to protect his foot injury. Switzerland centre-back Senderos, who suffered a shoulder injury in the World Cup game with South Korea, played the entire match.
"optimistic"Everton boss David Moyes is optimistic of having striker Andrew Johnson in his line-up for the trip to Middlesbrough on October 14.The summer signing from Crystal Palace, who has scored six goals this season, pulled out of the England squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers with Macedonia and Croatia because of a hamstring injury.
But Moyes told the club's official website: "It should take about 10 days to heal. He couldn't play this weekend but he may be able to resume training before the trip to Middlesbrough.
Chris Sutton has been reunited with former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill at Aston Villa.I would assume that Sutton will just be cover for JPA, but it is something to note.
But my sleeper, dark horse, Nigel Reo-Coker pick of the season is Ashley Young. You gotta like that he's being called a "Thierry Henry" type player. He's small, but quick and strong. A winger that will play striker (listed as a middie... hello, the rules, anyone?), takes kicks, and scores goals.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes Jermaine Pennant is close to receiving an England call-up.If only the lack of regular first-team football wasn't holding him back!
Aston Villa's Luke Moore could be out of action for the rest of the season after suffering a recurrence of a shoulder injury against Chelsea.Moore is set to undergo surgery on the problem which has dogged him to varying degrees for the past three years and Villa manager Martin O'Neill is resigned to being without the player for the foreseeable future.Shame for Moore as he's done really well so far this season. Looks like Villa will be forced to go with a 4-4-2 with Baros partnering JPA. Wonder how that impacts their midfield personnel. If Barry continues at left fullback, will we see Berger drafted to the left of midfield? And if so, does Davis drop to the bench assuming Petrov and McCann are first choice in the middle?
The Manager would like to be the first to welcome Danny Murphy back into the warmth of the fantasy family. He began as nothing but the man who killed ManU for Liverpool before becoming a full-tilt fantasy stud at the beginning of last season. Charlton looked great with he and Bent scoring. Then, for whatever reason, it went wrong and Murphy ended up stuck on Spur's bench. But now after two good games, including yesterday's where he actually earned the points for his play, I would venture to guess that he finds himself on a lot of fantasy squads this morning.
In the midfield, Niko Kranjcar FINALLY takes over from Taylor on the left of Pompey's midfield. And while it resulted in a loss for POR, Kranjcar did earn 8 fantasy points. Hopefully he can take over where D'Alessandro left off last season. There was more good news for Ferguson, who confirmed the injury which forced Gabriel Heinze off in the first half was nothing more serious than a strained hamstring.Guess I shouldn't have sold him in a panic on Sunday. Oh well. I needed to free up the money to buy Danny Murphy anyway.
WOW! What that ever a bad end to the game for Everton. First they lose AJ, and then they lose the win on Richards stunning half-volley. (Not to mention the cost to fantasy managers as Howard went from +9 to 0 in the blink of an eye.)Everton's Andrew Johnson has pulled out of England's squad for the next two Euro 2008 qualifiers, with Charlton's Darren Bent his replacement...
However a hamstring injury, which Johnson sustained in the last minute of Saturday's 1-1 draw against Manchester City, will keep him sidelined for the games against Macedonia and Croatia.
Goal Tottenham Hotspur: Murphy (2)With apologies to BWP, I guess they are more accurately described as 2nd minute brothers.
Goal Wigan Athletic: Heskey (2)
Goal Reading: Seol (2)