Asamoah Gyan Doubtful For Liverpool Clash

Back to the drawing board.

Asamoah Gyan Doubtful For Liverpool Clash | Football/Soccer | Peacefmonline.com

Asamoah Gyan is a doubt for their English Premier League trip to Liverpool this Saturday.

Gyan scored on Tuesday night in the Black Cats 1-2 home defeat to West Ham to crash out of the Carling Cup but limped out on the hour mark...

“The most upsetting thing of the evening is that we have two or three players with soft tissue injuries and they’re struggling for Saturday,” Sunderland manager Bruce said.

“Kieran’s done his hamstring and we’ll see how bad it is. Ferdinand has a hamstring too. Gyan got a knock to his ribs and has hurt his hamstring. It’s very disappointing.”

It will be interesting to see if Bruce rushes Andy Reid back to the starting line-up after his cameo at the end of the Arsenal match. Also, does this derail McCartney's loan to Leeds? Or do we see Angeleri in the Premier League for the first time?

Black Cat Black and Blues

Sunderland players are going to be popular this week as they have nice home matches against Portsmouth and Aston Villa.  But be careful how you pick because according to Yahoo!UK/Eurosport, the Black Cats are struggling with both injuries and suspensions:

Full-backs Phil Bardsley and Kieran Richardson both picked up fifth bookings of the season in the 1-0 defeat at Fulham and will miss bottom side Portsmouth's visit to the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

With the club currently assessing the ankle injury defender Anton Ferdinand picked up at Craven Cottage, John Mensah struggling with a persistent calf problem, Lee Cattermole still fighting his way back from medial ligament damage and keeper Craig Gordon out for three months with a broken arm, Bruce finds himself with limited options once again.

Late Fitness Test

You've all talked yourselves into the Captain, haven't you? Kirkland is (well, was) dirt cheap and he got the clean sheet last week against Sunderland. Well... if he's a good bet this week, hosting Birmingham, here's my thinking: I'll take the money I was spending on Duff (still a good bet, home to Fulham) and get Scharner. He's listed as a defender so he'll do well if Kirkland does well. And hopefully he can continue to get points from his attacking midfield role. It's funny...

Premier League Round-up

Sunderland win at Celtic

Richardson broke the deadlock with a composed finish after 12 minutes following a dreadful slip from Darren O'Dea as Steve Bruce's side capitalised on their early pressure.

Jones , who had looked a persistent threat in his lone-striking role, doubled the Black Cats' lead in the 54th minute, converting a free header to score with ease...

Fraizer Campbell entered the fray for Sunderland at the expense of Jones in the second half, but no further drama followed as the flurry of substitutions gave the match a fragmented finish.

Richardson was a sprightly presence playing off Jones in what represented Bruce's new-look forward line, with Campbell set to provide stiff competition.

Looks like Bruce is going to go 4-5-1 on the road or against the bigger clubs.  And with Darren Bent likely to sign, I guess we can call and end to Frazier Campbell's fantasy relevance.  On the flip side, it looks like KRich is going to be a really nice mid-price option in midfield.

Redknapp admits defender concerns

"I don't see (Michael Dawson) or Woody being fit for the start of the season."

That leaves Spurs limited at the back with 20-year-old Dorian Dervite an option while Tom Huddlestone and Vedran Corluka can both provide temporary cover.

Moyes reveals Fellaini concern

"Fellaini has had an illness for most of the summer which has affected him," said Moyes. "He picked up a viral infection in the summer. It got into his blood, he lost a lot of weight and he wasn't a boy that could afford to lose any weight."

He added: "It's noticeable looking at him how thin he has become. It has definitely had an effect on his overall performance.

"It is going to take a little while I feel for him to get his full strength back. I don't think he is there yet.

Not that Fellaini is really on the radar for week one - one-gamer and hosting Arsenal at that - but if Fellaini continues to play in an advanced role behind a lone striker, he could be a (say it with me this time...) really nice mid-price option in midfield.

Hadjuk striker Kalinic signs for Blackburn Rovers
Di Santo makes Rovers loan move
Blackburn swoop for strike duo

Blackburn Rovers have signed strikers Nikola Kalinic from Hajduk Split and Franco Di Santo from Chelsea.

Croatia international Kalinic, 21, joins on a four-year contract pending a work permit for a fee that could rise to £12 million, Hajduk said on their website.  Kalinic hit 32 goals in 59 appearances for Hadjuk...

Argentine Di Santo, 20, arrives on loan until January although Rovers have an option to extend the deal until the end of the season. The 6'4" target man joined Chelsea from Chilean side Audax Italiano in 2008 and made 16 appearances for the first team last season, all as a substitute, scoring no goals.

Neither are likely to be starters at the kick off, but certainly two to keep an eye out for as the season progresses.

And not that anyone was looking at the following players, but in the interest of completeness:

Finnan injured in Pompey loss

Finnan was introduced for the second half but within 25 minutes he went off injured with what appeared to be a hamstring injury

Double blow as Blues crash

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish will wait on the fitness of Martin Taylor and Marcus Bent after his side`s 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The pair suffered injuries in the second half of the game at the City Ground...

Taylor was the most concerning of the two as he left the field on a stretcher and with his right leg in a brace.

Striker Bent hobbled off in the second period having been on the pitch for just 15 minutes.