Seven Premier League clubs are to benefit from the early exits of Senegal and South Africa from the African Cup of Nations.

2006 semi-finalists Senegal return seven players to England after finishing third in Group D. Those players are Fulham duo Diomansy Kamara and Papa Bouba Diop, Newcastle pair Abdoulaye Faye and Habib Beye, Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf, Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko and West Ham striker Henri Camara.

World Cup 2010 hosts South Africa, who finished bottom of the same group, see captain Aaron Mokoena return to Blackburn Rovers. There is bad news for Everton, however, as their winger Steven Pienaar returns with an ankle injury that will keep him out for up to three weeks.

Mali midfielder Mohamed Sissoko left for Ghana as a Liverpool player, but will link up with new club Juventus upon leaving Africa.

As South Africa and Senegal were only eliminated on Thursday, it is unlikely that any of the players will be fielded for the coming weekend's round of fixtures. Nevertheless, clubs will be boosted by their players' returns after their enforced absence over the last fortnight.

There are still 27 Premier League players who are left in the competition until at least the quarter finals, to be played on February 3rd and 4th. The semi finals will take place on February 7th, with the final three days later on Monday 10th.

The clubs still missing players are:

Arsenal - Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast), Alex Song (Cameroon)

Birmingham - Richard Kingson (Ghana), Mehdi Nafti, Radhi Jaidi (Tunisia)

Bolton - Abdoulaye Meite (Ivory Coast)

Chelsea - Michael Essien (Ghana), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Salomon Kalou (Ivory Coast), John Obi Mikel (Nigeria)

Everton - Joseph Yobo (Nigeria), Ayegbeni Yakubu (Nigeria)

Manchseter United - Manucho (Angola - on loan at Panathanaikos)

Middlesbrough - Mohammed Shawky (Egypt)

Newcastle - Obafemi Martins (Nigeria), Geremi (Cameroon)

Portsmouth - Sulley Muntari (Ghana), Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka (Nigeria)

Reading - Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast), Andre Bikey (Cameroon)

Sunderland - Dickson Etuhu (Nigeria)

Tottenham - Didier Zokora (Ivory Coast)

West Ham - John Pantsil (Ghana)

Tony Mabert / Eurosport