Injuries and Suspensions

Are you fit? No, are you? No.  I'm sorry.  Give me a hug.  Are you fit?

There doesn't seem to be quite the laundry list of issues for this week.  The most important news is that Drogs and Lamps have been pronounced fit.  Following up quickly behind that is the fact that Spurs have been a bit decimated - especially at the striker position.  Finally, we still don't have much in the way of definitive pronouncements from Arsenal with Cesc, RvP, Song, and Djourou still all up in the air after today's pre-match reports and press conferences.

Definitely Out

• Defoe, Modric, Keane, Pavyluchenko, Bentley, dos Santos, and O'Hara - that's a lot of attacking power that won't be starting this weekend for Spurs but it does mean that we can probably count on Crouch, Kranjcar, Lennon, and Bale to get starts in front of THud or Palacios which is nice.
• Koscielny, Djourou, Bendtner, and Nasri (according to BBC.com) - this probably means that Song will be forced back into action at CB with Diaby continuing on as a makeshift holding midfielder.  No real illumination on the more important questions related to the attacking roles between Cesc/Wilshere/Rosicky and RvP/Chamakh/Walcott/Arshavin - I'd tend towards certainty here which SEEMS to favor Arshavin and Chamakh over any of the other choices.
• Collins and Cuellar - No word on whether Davies will deputize or if he'll be eased back in after a Thursday match - Clark isn't a bad idea but there's certainly no guarantee.  That said, Luke Young will almost definitely continue on the right.

Other News from around the Premier League


Soccernet: Premier League team news

Sunderland:

The Black Cats will be forced into a reshuffle, with centre-back John Mensah missing through injury and midfielder Lee Cattermole suspended after his red card against Birmingham last week.

Paulo Da Silva is set to come in for hamstring tear victim Mensah and partner Titus Bramble at the heart of defence.

Summer buy Cristian Riveros will make his first start in place of Cattermole and play alongside Jordan Henderson in the middle of the park...

Bruce will also be without injury victims Craig Gordon (broken arm) and Andy Reid (calf), while Michael Turner completes a two-match suspension.

Meanwhile, defende Matt Kilgallon has moved to Middlesbrough on loan.

Chelsea:

'Ramires came back this morning, he will train today, and will not be involved tomorrow. Next week he will be ready to play against Stoke and he will be involved in the match.

'Ivanovic had a little problem in his stomach and is fit and ready to play tomorrow.

'We are without Bosingwa, he will start to train with the team next week and maybe needs again two or three weeks to play. Bruma will have surgery this morning for a hernia, and Kakuta has a problem on his back.

'The other players are in good condition. Lampard had a problem before the match against West Bromwich on his ankle, but trained well, recovered well and is fit.'

Manchester City:

England midfielder James Milner is set to make his debut for Manchester City on Monday against Liverpool at Eastlands (8pm)...

Manager Roberto Mancini will monitor the fitness of striker Mario Balotelli, who picked up a knock after scoring the winner on his debut.

Summer signings Aleksander Kolarov (ankle) and Jerome Boateng (knee) are again ruled out through injury.

Blackburn:

David Dunn is struggling to be fit to his face his former club when Rovers visit Birmingham City in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.

But the good news is that the midfield star's groin injury, picked up early in last weekend's opening fixture with Everton, is not considered serious.

"Saturday might come a little too early for Dunny," said manager Sam Allardyce.

"It is not a serious injury, but it has kept him away from training.

Tottenham Hotspur:

Jermain Defoe (groin), Roman Pavlyuchenko (ankle) and Robbie Keane (jarred knee) are all struggling.

That leaves Peter Crouch available up front for what is always one of the toughest away trips in the Barclays Premier League at the Britannia Stadium.

Giovani (hamstring) and Luka Modric (groin) are also doubtful after Tuesday night's Champions League play-off first leg encounter at Young Boys in Switzerland took its toll...

David Bentley (ankle), Jamie O'Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) remain sidelined.

West Ham:

"Thomas Hitzlsperger and Valon Behrami are probably not fit."

We'll post more as it becomes available.