(Updates with Chelsea details)
LONDON, April 6 (Reuters) – Brief news ahead of this
weekend’s Premier League matches (all times GMT)
* Winger Nani is available for Manchester United’s home
match with Queens Park Rangers on Sunday (1230) after recovering
from the ankle injury that has sidelined him for the last five
matches.
United manager Alex Ferguson told reporters he was delighted
Nani was back in training, adding, “He is a good addition
because he is such a talented player.”
However, Ferguson said neither Michael Owen or Anderson were
yet fit enough to feature in the game which, if United win, will
give them an eight-point gap over Manchester City, who have a
later kickoff, at the top of the table.
* Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has confirmed that
Mario Balotelli will be available for the match with Arsenal on
Sunday (1500) after being involved in a minor car accident on
Thursday.
Mancini said he was hopeful top scorer Sergio Aguero would
be fit for the visit to Arsenal after his foot injury. Defender
Joleon Lescott is also back in his plans after recovering from a
hip problem.
* Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has urged fans to be
patient after the team fell back to eighth in the table after
six defeats in their last seven league matches, their worst run
for 59 years.
“There are a lot of challenges ahead this season. I’d ask
the supporters to be patient; we will get it right,” he said on
the club website (www.liverpoolfc/tv) before Saturday’s home
match against Aston Villa (1400).
“We have had a mixed March. We’re in a league position we’re
not happy about and we need to look at ourselves and try to move
up the league as soon as possible.”
* Chelsea, who are fifth in the table, five points behind
Arsenal and Spurs, will be without skipper John Terry and
defender Ashley Cole, while Frank Lampard is extremnely doubtful
for Saturdfay’s match against Wigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge.
Caretaker coach Roberto Di Matteo told a news conference on
Friday that Terry would miss the game because he has two cracked
ribs, while Cole has an ankle problem and Lampard damaged a
thigh during Wednesday’s Champions League victory over Benfica.
* Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Terry Connor told
reporters on Friday he would retain Roger Johnson as skipper for
the “foreseeable future” despite his on-field bust-up with
goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey during last week’s defeat to Bolton
Wanderers.
Connor said he had spoken to both players and was satisfied
the matter is settled.
“Roger is captain for the foreseeable future,” he said.
Bottom club Wolves continue their fight for their survival
at Stoke City on Saturday (1630).
* Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he had no new injury
worries for the match against Manchester City and would name the
same squad as the one that lost 2-1 to Queens Park Rangers last
week.
Wenger thought Abou Diaby and Francis Coquelin might resume
training next week, while the next few weeks would determine
whether midfielder Jack Wilshere had any chance of playing this
season. Wilshere has missed the entire campaign following ankle
surgery.
* Fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur are at Sunderland on
Saturday (1145) and Aaron Lennon, who came on as a substitute
against Swansea last weekend, could make his first start for a
month following his recovery from a hamstring injury.
Tottenham captain Ledley King will have a test on his knee
later on Friday.
* Sunderland, who are chasing a Europa League spot for next
season, are likely to have Wayne Bridge back in the side against
Spurs after he missed last week’s match at Manchester City under
the terms of his loan agreement.
However defender John O’Shea (calf) and Lee Cattermole are
doubts.
(Reporting by Mike Collett; Editing by Alison Wildey)
