PL team news: Boosts for Man Utd & Spurs, Liverpool doubt

Ian Watson

Rose, Origi and Shaw: Mixed news over availability

Luke Shaw and Henrikh Mkhitaryan could return for Manchester United on Sunday, while Tottenham could be boosted by the return of a key quartet. 

Everton v Crystal Palace

Friday, 8pm, Goodison Park

Everton will be without Leighton Baines.

Baines has been nursing a hamstring injury that Toffees boss Ronald Koeman says makes it “too risky” for the full-back to be involved in the game, which striker Romelu Lukaku – recently troubled by a toe problem – will start.

Koeman has also said James McCarthy (groin) would be returning to training with Everton next week if he had not been called up by the Republic of Ireland, who he hopes will “protect” the midfielder.

Leighton Baines: Celebrates Everton opener

Crystal Palace welcome Wilfried Zaha back into their squad.

The winger missed last weekend’s win at Sunderland with a slight hamstring strain but is back in contention for the game at Goodison Park.

Striker Jonathan Benteke faces four months out after suffering a knee injury in training while captain Scott Dann (hamstring) remains absent.

 

Swansea v Liverpool

Saturday, 12:30pm, Liberty Stadium

Francesco Guidolin might be tempted to name an unchanged Swansea side after an improved showing in the defeat to leaders Manchester City.

But the Italian says he has “some problems” ahead of a game which he admits could prove decisive to him staying in a job with Swansea only one place above the relegation zone.

Federico Fernandez could be fit again after a groin strain and record signing Borja Baston’s wait for a first Premier League start is set to continue with the Spaniard expected to be on the bench once more.

Divock Origi Liverpool celeb

Divock Origi is a doubt for Liverpool.

The striker picked up a knock to his foot and the clash at the Liberty Stadium may come too soon.

Manager Jurgen Klopp must decide whether to stick with Loris Karius, who has played the last two matches in goal, or recall Simon Mignolet.

 

Hull v Chelsea

KC Stadium, Saturday, 3pm

Hull will be without suspended defender Ahmed Elmohamady.

Elmohamady serves a one-game ban following his dismissal for handball in last week’s 5-1 defeat at Liverpool and David Meyler is vying with James Weir for a place in the starting line-up at right-back.

Strikers Will Keane and Dieumerci Mbokani and midfielder Markus Henriksen are pushing for their first league starts.

John Terry: Defender injured late on at Swansea

Captain John Terry is out until after the international break.

The defender has missed the last three matches with an ankle injury sustained against Swansea and his earliest possible return will be on October 15 against Leicester.

Defender Kurt Zouma continues his rehabilitation from his long-term knee injury, while midfielder John Obi Mikel is out with a “small muscular problem”, head coach Antonio Conte said.

 

Sunderland v West Brom

Stadium of Light, Saturday, 3pm

Sunderland boss David Moyes will be without three key midfielders for Saturday’s Premier League clash with West Brom.

Having already seen Adnan Januzaj ruled out for a minimum of six weeks with ankle ligament damage, Moyes has now lost Steven Pienaar to a hamstring strain, while Lee Cattermole is to have an epidural in a bid to cure neuro-pain in his legs which medics believe stems from his back.

In addition, striker Victor Anichebe, who made his debut as a substitute in last weekend’s 3-2 home defeat by Crystal Palace, is out with a groin problem and joins goalkeeper Vito Mannone (elbow), midfielder Sebastian Larsson (knee) and striker Fabio Borini (groin) on the sidelines.

Saido Berahino West Brom

Saido Berahino is expected to return to West Brom’s squad.

The striker missed last week’s 1-1 draw at Stoke with a stomach bug but has trained this week and is fit for the Baggies’ game at the Stadium of Light.

Boss Tony Pulis has no fresh injury concerns with James Morrison fit after a long-term hamstring issue and, while Chris Brunt has returned to training after six months out with a knee injury, he will not be included in the first-team squad until after the international break.

 

Watford v Bournemouth

Vicarage Road, Saturday, 3pm

Watford defenders Craig Cathcart and Miguel Britos are both struggling with groin injuries and are rated as doubtful for the visit of Bournemouth.

The possible absence of Cathcart could see a return to the starting line-up for Younes Kaboul, with the centre-back named on the bench for their defeat at Burnley on Monday.

Isaac Success and Abdoulaye Doucoure are pushing for their first league starts while Daryl Janmaat remains sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Miguel Britos (l): Restricted Zlatan to just one assist

Bournemouth winger Marc Pugh will be out for up to three weeks after he suffered a hamstring injury at the start of September.

Cherries manager Eddie Howe has received better news on Josh King’s hamstring problem and hopes he will be in contention against Watford on Saturday.

Adam Smith has suffered no ill-effects from a bloody nose he sustained in the 1-0 win against Everton and Ryan Fraser (knock) is available.

 

West Ham v Middlesbrough

London Stadium, Saturday, 3pm

Havard Nordtveit is West Ham’s latest injury absentee.

The versatile midfielder underwent a small medical procedure on Wednesday and will be out for a week.

Left-backs Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku and forwards Andy Carroll, Andre Ayew and Diafra Sakho remain on the sidelines.

Havard Nordtveit West Ham

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka has no fresh injury concerns.

Fabio da Silva has missed the last four games with a knee problem, but is available for selection once again, while fellow full-back James Husband is also back in training after dislocating a shoulder in pre-season.

That means only midfielder Grant Leadbitter is still missing, and he could return to the training pitch within weeks with his recovery from hernia surgery progressing more quickly than expected.

 

Manchester United v Stoke

Old Trafford, Sunday, 12pm

Luke Shaw and Henrikh Mkhitaryan could return for Manchester United.

Left-back Shaw became ill after recovering from a slight groin tear so will need assessing, while attacking midfielder Mkhitaryan is building up fitness after a thigh complaint.

Phil Jones is the only definite absentee with a knee injury, while captain Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial are among those pushing for starts after making impacts off the bench in the Europa League clash with Zorya Luhansk.

Luke Shaw: Misses out for Man Utd

Joe Allen is a doubt for Stoke.

The midfielder had tightness in his hamstrings following last weekend’s draw with West Brom and has not trained since.

Jon Walters (ankle) could return but goalkeeper Jack Butland is set for at least another month on the sidelines following surgery.

 

Leicester v Southampton

King Power Stadium, Sunday, 2:15pm

Nampalys Mendy could return for Leicester after overcoming an ankle injury.

The midfielder, who joined from Nice in the summer, has been out for over a month but has returned to training and could replace Daniel Amartey.

Matty James is the Foxes’ only absentee as he battles his own ankle injury while Danny Simpson could return after being dropped for Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League win over Porto.

Nampalys Mendy Leicester

 

Tottenham v Manchester City

White Hart Lane, Sunday, 2:15pm

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino could have four first-team players back.

Eric Dier, Mousa Dembele and Danny Rose will all be assessed as they near returns from hamstring injuries while Moussa Sissoko may also feature after taking a bang on the head last weekend.

Harry Kane remains out with an ankle injury, meaning summer signing Vincent Janssen is likely to start again up front.

Eric Dier: Photo courtesy of Tottenham

Pep Guardiola has reported no new injury worries for Manchester City’s Premier League trip to Tottenham on Sunday.

The club are still assessing the extent of the injuries afflicting Kevin De Bruyne, Vincent Kompany and Fabian Delph in order to determine how long they will remain on the sidelines.

The Belgians are receiving treatment for hamstring and groin problems respectively, but it is hoped Delph’s muscle injury will clear up by the end of the international break.

 

Burnley v Arsenal

Turf Moor, Sunday, 4:30pm

Burnley are again without suspended striker  for the visit of Arsenal on Sunday.

Gray serves the second part of a four-game ban related to historic social media posts which predate his time at Turf Moor.

Sean Dyche could retain the same XI which secured a 2-0 win over Watford last time out but forward Ashley Barnes is edging closer to a return after long-standing hamstring problems.

Andre Gray Burnley

Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns.

The Gunners could welcome Francis Coquelin back into the fold as the midfielder faces a fitness test having recovered sooner than expected from a knee injury.

Olivier Giroud (toe) is still out, while Aaron Ramsey (hamstring), Per Mertesacker, Danny Welbeck and Carl Jenkinson (all knee) are also absent.