Injuries and Suspensions

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Out

• Carlos Cuellar and James Collins - the problem is that there isn't any definitive on Davies' health so the Collins replacement could either be Davies or the youngster Ciaran Clark.  Regardless, Luke Young is probably too expensive to choose as a deputy for Cuellar on the right;
• Thomas Hitzlsperger - he picked up a thigh injury playing for Germany in midweek - I wasn't clear exactly what his role was going to be to start the season anyway so probably not a major change to the WHU starting line-up;
• Andy Reid - you knew this but just a reminder in case you forgot - Jeremy's soccer crush Jordan Henderson could pick up the points;
• Liam Lawrence - out with a groin strain for Stoke - not really worth worrying about a replacement;
• Johan Djourou/Nicholas Bendtner/Aaron Ramsey - the only Arsenal players who are definitely out for the Liverpool match despite Football365 constantly assuming that Arsenal will "break the unofficial record for players being crocked to open the season" - means Koscielny will definitely start because, well, what other options does Wenger have at the back?
  

Uncertain/Fitness Test

• Joe Hart/Shay Given - no obvious answer here so I'd stay away from both due to uncertainty and quality opposition;
• David Silva and Jerome Boateng - more mystery coming from Eastlands as neither new signing is certain to start after international duty - you have been duly warned so you can make your decisions accordingly;
• Agbonlahor - "battling to overcome a hamstring" doesn't sound like "I want to spend a lot of my budget on this guy"; 
• Mame Diouf - the loanee from ManYoo played an international in midweek and hasn't had much training time with his new team but Rovers are thin at striker - sounds like a substitute appearance to me;
  
• Schwarzer/Etuhu/Konchesky - that's a lot of defending in question for Fulham which could mean that Bolton's attack goes from being "not bad" to "a pretty solid bet" at home;
• Darren Bent - rated as "50/50" by the manager which pretty much kills the value of both Bent and Welbeck;
• Ben Foster - facing a late fitness test but you probably don't want him nor any alternative on the road;
• Kevin Doyle - he sounds closer to "out" than "in" but it isn't definitive, guess my "Reading Reunion" storyline will have to wait a week or two to get started;
• Abdoulaye Faye - could weaken the Stoke back-line/toughness but at best it balances out the likely absence of Doyle for Wolves - nothing to see here;
• Graham Dorrans - one of the potentially very interesting newbies looks very likely to make his debut in the league - I'm not picking him against Chelsea but it will be good to see how he adapts before potentially picking him for next week;
  
• Frank Lampard - he usually comes through these things and starts but its worth noting that he's listed on the injury report and will face a "late fitness test";
  
• Didier Drogba - no real information on Drogba and we know he can play but the question is whether he starts - the uncertainty probably makes Rooney the better value as a Premium Striker;
• Fernando Torres - my gut tells me he won't be ready but the injury report says "he's in contention" so we shall see;
• Cesc Fabregas/RvP/Alex Song/Denilson - Which means that Wilshere and Chamakh are also questionable to start since we have NO IDEA what Wenger will do if he has all of his players available;
  

Back/All Clear

• Petr Cech - all clear putting him (and his lower price) firmly in competition with EvdS for best keeper option of the week;
  
• Alex - Even better news for Cech (and a CHE clean sheet) is the news that Alex will be back to partner Terry which probably pushes Ivanovic over to right back and negates Ferriera's value on as a cheap defender - guess that's sort of a good news/bad news thing for managers;
  
• Tim Cahill - looks like he'll make it and start in his typical attacking midfielder/withdrawn striker role for Everton;
• Javier Mascherano - Looks like Hodgson will consider him despite wanting to sell him which should help the Liverpool defense;