Injury News

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits the medical team have "a wee bit of patching up to do" ahead of Saturday's clash with Everton as injuries strike in defence.

Rio Ferdinand is still several weeks from a return and Ferguson says both Jonny Evans and John O'Shea are major doubts.

"The last couple of international breaks we've had players come back with some injuries, and it's the same again," said Ferguson. "Jonny Evans is a doubt, and John O'Shea was taken off the other night.

"O'Shea's got a thigh problem and I don't think he'll make tomorrow. We're fighting hard to get Jonny Evans available. Fortunately he came off at half-time, which gives us a chance, but he's not trained yet. Hopefully he'll train today."

The boost is that at least Nemanja Vidic is available after playing 70 minutes in midfield.

"We've got a wee bit of patching up to do in terms of getting our back four ready for tomorrow. Hopefully we can get a back four that can get us through this difficult game," said Ferguson. Gary Neville is still suspended.

Glen Johnson will go straight back into the Liverpool team this weekend have apparently benefited from travelling to Belgrade to undergo treatment from Mariana Kovacevic - the controversial 'radical healer' who is now trying to fix Robin van Persie's ankle with the fluid of a horse placenta. As you do.

But Fabio Aurelio, who also travelled with Johnson, is still ruled out, and Fernando Torres may only be fit enough to take a place on the bench despite his return to training. Rafa Benitez has also denied that Alberto Aquilani will start the game and the Italian is also set to be a substitute against Manchester City.

It's unclear just how fit Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera are, but the Independent mentions that David Ngog will be in the squad despite breaking his nose on international duty last week.

Another player making a quick return to the first-team will be Chelsea skipper John Terry.

The defender joined in full training on Thursday and there's a general expectation that he will start the game against Wolves. However, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack are all rated as 'big doubts'.

After eight weeks out, Denilson is likely to come straight back into the Arsenal team at Sunderland on Saturday at the expense of the freshly-crocked Abou Diaby.

Theo Walcott looks to be at least another week away from a return but Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Lukasz Fabianski, Carlos Vela, and Armand Traore have all returned to fitness after their spells on the sidelines.

Aston Villa defender Wilfred Bouma has suffered another injury blow which has delayed his comeback after 16 months out of action.

But James Collins and Emile Heskey are both expected to be fit for Villa's clash at Burnley with the club's manager reporting: "I think that the medical side at the club are particularly pleased with their progress. I think they are on course."