
Premier League Team News
ESPNSTAR.com brings you the latest team updates for the seven matches that will take place on Saturday.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
Martin O'Neill is mulling over whether to give Emile Heskey his second Premier League start of the current campaign.
Full-back Luke Young is eligible for selection but will likely start from the bench.
Keeper Peter Cech will start for the Blues.
Michael Ballack is out with an ankle problem after getting scythed down by Chelsea team-mate Yury Zhirkov when Russia took on Germany.
Arsenal vs Birmingham
The pair who made the headlines last season when the two clubs met - Arsenal's Eduardo and Birmingham's Martin Taylor - are unavailable through injury.
Eduardo, who was the victim of the horrific tackle from Taylor that left him with a fractured leg and dislocated ankle, has a thigh problem this time.
Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is ready for selection if Manuel Almunia is not fully recovered from a chest infection.
Birmingham forward Cameron Jerome should start on Saturday, while Christian Benitez misses out due to a missed flight from South America.
Everton vs Wolverhampton
Defender Phil Jagielka is finally training with the first-team after spending six months on the sidelines with a knee problem. He is, however, still not match fit.
Steven Pienaar could feature after recovering from a knee injury.
Wolves could start Michael Kightly and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake against the Toffees after the duo's long lay-off through injury.
Segunfo Castillo, however, could start on the bench as he is not fully fit after a long flight from South America.
Man United vs Bolton
Wayne Rooney is out for Man United's game against Bolton due to a calf problem that he sustained while on international duty.
Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is set to make his first appearance this season, replacing Ben Foster between the sticks, but Dimitar Berbatov is doubtful for the match due to the birth of his first child.
Sam Ricketts could watch the game from the stands after pulling out of Wales' World Cup qualifiers with an ankle injury.
Bolton have a full squad to choose from other than the injured Ricketts.
Portsmouth vs Tottenham
Goalkeeper David James is fully fit after pulling out of England's game with Belarus, citing a knee problem.
Jamie O'Hara cannot play in this fixture due to a clause in his loan deal with Spurs, so Aaron Mokoena is set to start in the middle of the park.
Spurs' midfield dynamo Wilson Palacios will not play in this game as he will not be back from Honduras until Saturday morning.
Jonathan Woodgate is still out with an injury, but Ledley King should be able to shake off a hamstring injury and play.
Stoke vs West Ham
Tony Pulis will be without the services of Glenn Whelan after the midfielder injured his calf while on duty with the Republic of Ireland.
Offseason acquisition Tuncay is still waiting for his first start for Stoke City.
West Ham have Jack Collison back from a knee problem for the trip to the Britannia, but Scott Parker will only watch the game as he is banned after accumulating five yellow cards in the current campaign.
Sunderland vs Liverpool
Bolo Zenden is set to make his debut for Sunderland against his former team, Liverpool.
The Black Cats, however, will be without the services of Kieran Richardon, who is serving a suspension after his red card at Old Trafford.
The Reds will play without their talismanic strike partnership of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, both of whom are out with an injury (groin and abdomen problems respectively).
Sotirios Kyrgiakos is sidelined for a few weeks after injuring his knee in Greece's win over Luxembourg.
Powered by Disqus
