PL team news: Rooney sits out, Lallana and Carroll in contention

Ian Watson

Carroll, Lallana and Rooney: One out, two could feature

Adam Lallana could return for Liverpool, and Andy Carroll may be fit to face Arsenal but Wayne Rooney will sit out this weekend for Man Utd.

Manchester City v Chelsea

Saturday 03 December 2016 (12:30)
Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Manchester City have no fresh injury concerns.

Captain Vincent Kompany is the only notable absentee after being ruled for about another month with a knee injury.

Midfielder Fabian Delph has not played since August but is training and nearing a return after a groin operation.

Vincent Kompany: Suffers another injury setback

Chelsea could name the same starting XI for the seventh successive Premier League game.

Head coach Antonio Conte said there were doubts over one or two players, but declined to disclose their names ahead of his side’s bid for an eighth successive win.

Captain John Terry has been ruled out for two to three weeks with a buttock injury.

 

Crystal Palace v Southampton

Saturday 03 December 2016 (15:00)
Selhurst Park, London

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is expected to revert to a 4-3-3 formation and recall Andros Townsend after Connor Wickham’s anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Wickham had successful surgery on his knee ligaments earlier this week and Pardew must also juggle the absences of Steve Mandanda, who requires knee surgery that will rule him out for the coming four-to-six weeks, and Yohan Cabaye (suspension).

Pape Souare (broken thigh bone) and Loic Remy (calf) remain a long-term absentees but there could be a recall for the fit-again Joe Ledley.

Dusan Tadic Southampton

Dusan Tadic and Matt Targett are Southampton’s only absentees.

A nose injury that has forced Tadic to wear a mask in training has ruled him out of the fixture, while Targett remains a long-term absentee because of a hamstring problem.

As he has all season, manager Claude Puel is expected to make numerous changes from the team that won 2-0 at Arsenal on Wednesday as he persists with his rotation system amid a demanding run of games.

 

Stoke City v Burnley

Saturday 03 December 2016 (15:00), Stoke

Joe Allen is available again for Stoke.

The Wales midfielder – the Potters’ leading scorer this season – missed last weekend’s win at Watford through suspension but is expected to go straight back into the starting line-up against the Clarets.

Glenn Whelan has trained this week following a calf complaint and should be fit, but captain Ryan Shawcross (calf) remains a doubt and knee injuries keep Geoff Cameron and Phil Bardsley sidelined.

Joe Allen: Believes time was right to leave Anfield

England’s Tom Heaton could be missing again for Burnley.

The goalkeeper’s run of 142 league fixtures was brought to an end by a calf problem last weekend and, with doubts persisting over the issue in the latter stages of this week, 37-year-old Paul Robinson is ready to step in once more.

Dean Marney (back) and Johann Berg Gudmundsson (hamstring) were both forced off in the defeat to Manchester City but the former has a “strong chance” of featuring, according to boss Sean Dyche, who ruled Gudmundsson out.

 

Sunderland v Leicester City

Saturday 03 December 2016 (15:00)
Stadium of Light, Sunderland

Sunderland midfielder Lynden Gooch is out as he waits to hear if he needs surgery on an ankle injury.

The United States international was in London to see a specialist on Friday, but Black Cats boss David Moyes fears he could be sidelined for between eight and 12 weeks.

Defender Papy Djilobodji is available after suspension and Jan Kirchhoff (illness and hamstring) is back in the squad, but while Fabio Borini (groin) has returned to training, midfielders Lee Cattermole (hip), Jack Rodwell (hamstring) and Paddy McNair (knee) remain on the casualty list.

Fabio Borini Sunderland

Nampalys Mendy could return to Leicester squad after being out since August with an ankle injury.

The midfielder suffered the problem on his full debut against Arsenal and has suffered set-backs, including needing a minor operation, but made his comeback to training this week.

Ben Chilwell (ankle) is also back in training, but Kasper Schmeichel (broken hand) and Danny Drinkwater (suspended) are out for Claudio Ranieri’s side.

 

Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea City

Saturday 03 December 2016 (15:00)
White Hart Lane, London

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino will make a late decision on Toby Alderweireld’s fitness.

Alderweireld trained this week but has still not fully recovered from the knee injury that has kept the Belgian out for seven weeks.

Danny Rose is available again after serving a one-match suspension but Erik Lamela (hip) and Ben Davies (ankle) are both out.

Toby Alderweireld: Looking forward to CL draw

Swansea striker Fernando Llorente hopes to be rewarded for his match-winning display against Crystal Palace with a starting spot.

The Spaniard netted a stoppage-time double in the amazing 5-4 victory over Palace – Bob Bradley’s first win as Swansea manager – after coming on as a second-half substitute.

Skipper Leon Britton could rejoin the matchday squad after missing the last two games with a calf problem, but South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-yueng remains out with the broken toe which kept him out of the Palace game.

 

West Bromwich Albion v Watford

Saturday 03 December 2016 (15:00)
The Hawthorns, West Bromwich

West Brom could be without Salomon Rondon after he pulled out of training on Thursday suffering from suspected tonsillitis.

The £12million striker will be assessed by the Baggies ahead of the visit of Watford but Nacer Chadli has fully recovered from minor knee surgery after his comeback in last week’s 1-1 draw at Hull.

Striker Saido Berahino will not feature as he continues to regain match fitness and back-up goalkeeper Boaz Myhill (ankle) is unlikely to return for another two weeks.

Salomon Rondon: Seals win for Baggies

Watford manager Walter Mazzarri could have a number of high-profile absentees.

Defender Younes Kaboul, who limped off in the defeat at Stoke last weekend and striker Isaac Success, out with a leg injury since October, face late fitness tests.

Defender Miguel Britos and midfielder Valon Behrami are both banned while Craig Cathcart remains sidelined with a groin injury. Midfielder Ben Watson is also a doubt.

 

West Ham United v Arsenal

Saturday 03 December 2016 (17:30)
London Stadium, London

Andy Carroll is set to make his first appearance since August.

The striker, who scored a hat-trick the last time the Hammers faced the Gunners, has finally recovered from a knee injury and is in the squad.

But wing-backs Michail Antonio and Aaron Cresswell suffered groin injuries at Manchester United on Wednesday night and join Diafra Sakho, Reece Oxford and Sam Byram on the sidelines.

Andy Carroll: Targeted by armed robbers

Arsenal will be without Mathieu Debuchy for Saturday’s London derby after boss Arsene Wenger confirmed he will miss up to six weeks with a hamstring injury.

The defender was forced off early on in last weekend’s win over Bournemouth and will not return before Christmas, while Santi Cazorla (Achilles) faces three months on the sidelines after the club decided he requires ankle surgery.

Olivier Giroud (groin) could also miss out, while Hector Bellerin (ankle), Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck (both knee) are all definite absentees.

 

Bournemouth v Liverpool

Sunday 04 December 2016 (13:30)
Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe will once again be without Andrew Surman.

The midfielder, who has not featured since October, has suffered a setback due to “discomfort in his hamstring” and faces an extended spell on the sidelines.

Howe will make a late decision on Charlie Daniels (hip), who missed the defeat to Arsenal last weekend, but goalkeeper Artur Boruc (back) is expected to be available.

adam-lallana-injured

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana is expected to return to the side after recovering from a groin problem which has kept him out for three weeks.

Manager Jurgen Klopp will restore his first-choice line-up, having made eight changes for the midweek EFL Cup win over Leeds.

Roberto Firmino has returned to training after a calf problem against Sunderland last week but Daniel Sturridge will not be involved because of a similar injury which has sidelined him for the last two games.

 

Everton v Manchester United

Sunday 04 December 2016 (16:00)
Goodison Park, Liverpool

James McCarthy is available for Everton but will have to fight for a place in the squad.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder has not featured since November 19 due to hamstring trouble but has trained all week and is now fit for duty.

Muhamed Besic (knee) will not be back until February and Matthew Pennington (hamstring) is a long-term absentee.

Wayne Rooney

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney will be suspended at his former club.

The 31-year-old picked up his fifth booking of the season in the midweek EFL Cup win over West Ham, but Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini are in contention after serving bans of their own.

Luke Shaw is a doubt with an unspecified injury that forced him off on Wednesday, while Eric Bailly (knee) and Chris Smalling (toe) remain absent for the trip to Goodison Park.

 

Middlesbrough v Hull City

Monday 05 December 2016 (20:00)
Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has reported no fresh injury concerns.

Defender George Friend remains Boro’s only significant absentee with the knee injury he suffered in training prior to last month’s 1-0 home defeat by Chelsea.

Daniel Ayala is pushing to return after his recent ankle injury but Brazilian Fabio is expected to retain his place in the starting line-up in Friend’s continued absence.

George Friend: Talks tactics with Aitor Karanka

Hull midfielders Ryan Mason and Sam Clucas are back in contention.

Mason missed Tuesday night’s EFL Cup penalty shootout win against Newcastle due to illness and Clucas served a one-game ban.

Striker Dieumerci Mbokani starts a three-game suspension following his midweek dismissal but Abel Hernandez (groin) and midfielder Shaun Maloney (back) have not been ruled out of a possible return to action.