Premier League Round-Up

Liverpool duo head home

Liverpool's injured duo Martin Skrtel and Nabil El Zhar will fly home from the Far East on Thursday to have potentially serious injuries assessed in the UK.

Both players were injured in Wednesday's 1-1 friendly draw with Thailand in Bangkok... Central defender Skrtel has a hamstring problem while midfielder El Zhar damaged a knee ligament.

Skrtel's is potentially the most serious injury and it is feared he could miss the start of the season.

Neither Agger (9.17) or Carragher (9.20) are cheap, but if they're your nailed on starters they might be worth a look. Especially Agger who loves a shot from distance!

Elsewhere...

Injury blow for Kapo

Wigan midfielder Olivier Kapo is likely to miss the start of the Barclays Premier League campaign after damaging knee ligaments on the club's pre-season tour of Austria.

Wenger expects Eduardo to figure

Arsene Wenger has eased concerns over Eduardo's fitness by confirming the Arsenal striker is in line to make his pre-season bow in Monday's match at Szombathelyi Haladas.

Bouma boost for Villa

Villa, though, are optimistic the 31-year-old could feature in their first game of the Premier League, at home to Wigan on 15th August, after he was included in a 26-man squad for pre-season fixtures in Spain.

Tottenham captain King held on assault charge
Spurs sign Blades duo
Walker going back to Blades
Spurs face early season injury crisis

Tottenham Hotspur are facing a central defensive crisis for the start of the Premier League season after confirming a trio of injuries on Thursday.

Injury-plagued Jonathan Woodgate has a groin problem and has flown to the United States for treatment, captain Ledley King has not kicked a ball in pre-season and Michael Dawson has damaged his Achilles.

Assuming King will play (He never practices with the team anyway, so why should we expect him to play in pre-season? And these legal matters never seem to impact a player's availability.) the logical move is Corluka coming inside and Hutton or new boy Naughton at right back. If it is the latter, and rumours are that Hutton is going to Everton, he could be a nice early season pick-up in defence.

Keane suspension stands as appeal fails

Robbie Keane will miss the north London derby with Arsenal after Tottenham's appeal against his red card for serious foul play against Birmingham was rejected.

The striker, 27, will now serve a three-match domestic suspension as a result of the dismissal for a challenge on Birmingham's Fabrice Muamba... Keane will also miss games against Manchester City and Portsmouth.

Meanwhile, Spurs have been boosted by the return of Ledley King for the reserve team clash with Fulham.

Spurs Swoop For Kaboul

Tottenham have announced the signing of France Under-21 defender Younes Kaboul from Auxerre.

Spurs fought off competition elsewhere in Europe to sign the 21-year-old, who was rated at around £8million.

I don't think anyone would be surprised if Kaboul is a started sooner rather than later. Certainly at the beginning of the season he will be needed to partner Dawson as King recovers. But if King can stay healthy, Dawson just might find himself on the bench.

And the way Spurs are looking, Kaboul might just join Bale on the +10 list come the new fantasy season.