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.

Premier League Round-Up

Join me as I check in with what has been happening in and around the English Premier League over the last week.

Elano seals Gala switch
Bojinov set for Parma move
Two less bodies to choose from.

Petrov fitness a worry for Villa

Aston Villa are sweating over the fitness of their Player Of The Year Stiliyan Petrov who suffered a dislocated shoulder during the Peace Cup clash with Atlante...

The midlands club expect to find out in the next 48 hours the extent of Petrov's setback and O'Neill told Aston Villa TV: "Stiliyan dislocated his shoulder and our doctor put it back in immediately."

He added: "He is feeling a little better but we don't know just at this moment how much damage he has done. It was obviously the low point of the night.

"But we don't know the extent of the problem. We will find out over the next couple of days to see how it settles down. We just don't know. But it is a concern to us."

This could be a chance for Steve Sidwell, at a bargain 4.88, albeit with only the single game in week one.

Countdown: Sunderland
Looking at that team... I just don't know.  They certainly have the potential to be safe this season.  And there are enough clubs with less that they could be comfortably mid-table.  But they are going to have to be much more solid at the back because they won't get much defensive help from the midfield, other than Cana who will take the customary time to settle.  And up front they'll need Jones to stay healthy and gel with Campbell (or whomever ends up in that spot).  I remember reading that KJ and Cisse hardly spoke to each other and in one particular match only passed to each other twice.  Campbell has potential (and is CHEAP at 4.16) and if they can form a partnership they can take advantage of what BFAReid, KRich and Steed can create.  And everything I just wrote about Campbell, apply to Bent.  Save for the price tag, which to be honest is the best part.

Speaking of Bent, I can't believe Marcus Bent is back in the Premier League.  I don't even think he makes the Darren Huckerby All-Stars of guys who are "too good for the Championship but not good enough for the Premier League".

Finnan signs for Portsmouth
Finallly, some traffic in, rather than out, down on the south coast.  Finnan was a great pick back in the day, but Portsmouth seem a team in crisis.  Now they've replaced Liverpool and England's right back of the future with Liverpool and Ireland's right back of the past.  He still may be a good bet but a lot will hinge on his fantasy price tag.

Kightly concern for Wolves

Wolves winger Michael Kightly is unlikely to be fit for the start of the Premier League season.

Kightly is edging closer to full fitness following a serious of niggling injuries but he is not expected to be risked when the new campaign kicks off.

Kightly was Neal's double-secret pick heading into the new season, but it looks like he'll have to wait a few weeks.

And speaking of Wolves...

No say for Wolves on Milijas call-up
Milijas is my not-so-secret pick for the season and to my delight has been playing "in the hole" behind a lone striker in pre-season. Hopefully national team commitments won't derail his Premier League debut, but that remains to be seen.  Indeed, that will be something to watch for a host of players in the next week or so.

Ligament woe for Boa Morte
I can't imagine that the Feather Necklace of Death would have played that large of a role in West Ham's season with Jimenez coming in and Collison returning from injury.

Redknapp hails new boy Naughton
He played in midfield, but I can't imagine he'll do so with Lennon, Bentley (for now) and possibly Robbie Keane in front of him in the pecking order.  And with THud filling in at central defender he may even be behind Corluka at right back.  But THud's redeployment may be as much of a red herring as Naughton's.

Left-back worry for Blues boss
Not that you are looking to Birmingham's defence any way.

Valencia earns Ferguson praise after scoring on debut
Is Valencia the forgotten man of this off-season?  He's priced between the premium guys and the newbies but he averged 7.55/game last season at Wigan for God's sake.  He wasn't even taking kicks!  Surely that will only increase with regular playing time at ManU.  I think we're all looking at the newbie midfielders for the best price-to-return opportunities as there are no must-have new strikers... yet.

Arbeloa passes medical, set to join Real Madrid
Sad to see him go.  More importantly on the other side of the field is Insua's likely ascension to the starting left back role.  At least until Aurellio comes back from his latest injury - which could be two to six months, depending on whom you read - and Dossena's transfer to Napoli - which may or may not be edging closer, depending on whom you read.

Liverpool set for Dossena capture

AP Photo by Paolo Giovannini

Liverpool are hoping to complete the signing of Udinese full-back Andrea Dossena next week.

Reds chief executive Rick Parry confirmed a deal for the 26-year-old Italian is almost done.

"We are now ready to confirm the signing of Dossena. The deal should go through next week," Parry told the club's official website.

Steve Finnan, please back your bags. The next Midlands Express leaves in 20 minutes and will have you in claret and blue by day break.

I say that expecting Dossena to be the starting left back for Liverpool with Arbeloa moving to his more natural right back spot. With Degen slotted as Arb's back up, that makes Finnan, who has some transfer value, expendable. And of course Villa is still looking for a specialist right back, and Finnan would fit the bill nicely.