Early Doors

A lot of news ahead of the midweek matches.  Lets go around the league...


Gerrard set for Reds return

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is in contention for Tuesday's trip to Wolves after returning ahead of schedule from injury...
"He was training on Saturday and then a full training session on Sunday, and Monday was the same," said manager Rafael Benitez...
"We'll decide Tuesday but I think he can be available."

Cole back for Hammers

England striker Carlton Cole is back in the West Ham squad for the Barclays Premier League clash with Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Cole has recovered from his knee injury and is likely to start on the bench.

Arteta could return for Everton

Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta has a 50-50 chance of being fit for the visit of Sunderland...
However, he sustained a minor groin problem in a practice game on Monday which, ironically, had been arranged to give the likes of him and new loan signing Philippe Senderos a chance to improve their match fitness.
Centre-back Senderos, signed on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season, is in the squad but is likely to be among the substitutes.

Kilgallon could make Black Cats debut

New signing Matthew Kilgallon and midfielder Lee Cattermole are in contention as Sunderland aim to end their woeful run at Everton...
Phil Bardsley (hamstring) and Michael Turner (knee) are both out for up to three weeks after picking up injuries in the 2-1 defeat at Fratton Park as Sunderland's run was extended to one win in 10 games in all competitions.
Nyron Nosworthy and John Mensah could return, while George McCartney has recovered from the illness which ruled him out of the trip to the south coast but Anton Ferdinand (ankle) remains out.

Contrary to earlier reports...

Cole set to start for Chelsea

Ashley Cole is back after missing the Preston game with an ankle knock. Juliano Belletti is out for a month with a knee injury while Michael Essien is sidelined for six weeks with a similar complaint.
Strikers Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou return on Wednesday from African Nations Cup duty with the Ivory Coast but are not included in the squad. John Mikel Obi remains in Angola with Nigeria.

Also...

The manager's provisional line-up for Wednesday night reads: Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole, Ballack, Deco, Lampard, Joe Cole, Malouda, Anelka - six changes from the weekend.

All change for Villa

Aston Villa will be without full-back Stephen Warnock, midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker and striker John Carew for the clash against Arsenal at Villa Park.
Reo-Coker (ankle) and Carew (knee) are still struggling to shake off their problems while Warnock has failed to recover from the shin injury he suffered in the FA Cup tie against Brighton last weekend.

Song returns but may miss Man United game

Alex Song should re-join the Arsenal squad by Thursday but he still might not make the crucial game with Manchester United on Sunday...

"[As for Sunday] we will see how he comes back. But I must say he looked tired in the game yesterday."

FA charge for Ferdinand

RIO Ferdinand is facing a three-match ban after being charged with violent conduct by the Football Association.

The FA took the action after viewing video footage of the Manchester United defender’s clash with Hull forward Craig Fagan during the second-half of Saturday’s 4-0 win at Old Trafford...

Even if Ferdinand does admit his guilt, he could still figure in the night’s Carling Cup semi-final with Manchester City at Old Trafford and begin his punishment on Sunday, when the Reds visit Arsenal.

That seems a more logical move than beginning the suspension immediately, as United also have the option to do, a move that would rule Ferdinand out of the games against City, Arsenal and Portsmouth at Old Trafford on February 6.

If Ferdinand plays against City the third match of any suspension would be at Aston Villa on February 10.

Nasri and Bendtner back in full training

Aaron Ramsey returned for the FA Cup tie at Stoke and three others are back in contention ahead of Wednesday's trip to Aston Villa.

"The list of injuries is going down a bit," said Wenger.

"We have Samir Nasri and Nicklas Bendtner back in full training, so that is quite good news for us. Abou Diaby is injured, but Bacary Sagna is back."

Roberts returns for Rovers

Sam Allardyce welcomes Jason Roberts back into his squad for the first time in over a fortnight as the former Wigan frontman has recovered from a knee injury, whilst David Dunn has recovered from the knock that forced him off in the match against Aston Villa last Wednesday.

Vince Grella remains on the sidelines with a thigh strain whilst Chris Samba serves a one-match ban following his sending off last time out.