Soccer: English Premier League: Injury Report
LONDON: The Barclays English Premier League 2011 is entering its final phase this weekend with most of the teams have five more matches to play but some of the biggest teams are without services of their key men ahead of the crucial encounters.
Dimitar Berbatov
Manchester United, who are leading the EPL by six points, won’t have services of Dimitar Berbatov, the top-scorer this season, as the Red Devils are hosting Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday. The match will begin at 11:45 am (GMT).
Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United boss, said of Berbatov’s injury, “We’ll see what he’s like today in view of tomorrow”.
Berbatov has scored 21 goals this season, the most by anyone, just two more than Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez.
Gareth Bale
However, good news for the Sir Alex Ferguson’s side is that their midfielder Darren Fletcher is recovering fast from a virus while right back Rafael da Silva is available for the Everton game.
Talking about Fletcher, the Red Devils boss said, “When he does come back, he’ll go straight into the team. He’ll be a very, very important player to come back”.
Arsenal are also missing out a player owing to an injury ahead of their match against Bolton Wanderers on Sunday. Midfielder Abou Diaby, who suffered a calf strain injury against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, will be missing out on the crucial encounter.
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger said, “As for anybody else, I haven’t seen the players because they were off Thursday. I will see them later”.
Carlos Tevez
Tottenham Hotspur would be without the PFA Player of the Year, Gareth Bale, on Saturday when they will host West Bromwich Albion. The match starts at 02:00 pm (GMT).
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said, “He has to be a doubt. I don’t want to say he’s definitely out just in case there is a chance but at the moment you wouldn’t think he would be fit.”
Apart from Gareth Bale, the Spurs would also miss defenders Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate due to groin injury and Alan Hutton owing to knee injury, while midfielder Wilson Palacios is also nursing a knee problem.
The second leading scorer in the EPL, Carlos Tevez, will be sitting out of Manchester City’s match against Blackburn Rovers on Monday, which starts at 07:00 pm (GMT).
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