Premier League - Team news: Rooney's return

Eurosport - Fri, 02 May 12:42:00 2008

Manchester United are set to welcome back Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra for Saturday's visit of West Ham.

2007-2008 Manchester United Wayne Rooney - 0

Rooney (hip) missed United's Champions League semi-final against Barcelona on Tuesday while Evra was stretchered off in the closing minutes at Old Trafford with a knock to the face.

Both are said to have recovered well and are in contention for places in the starting line-up but Nemanja Vidic remains sidelined after concussion.

A win for United, coupled with defeat for Chelsea at Newcastle on Monday would all but mathematically seal the Premier League title.

West Ham will be without the injured Freddie Ljungberg, who cracked a rib during last week's 2-2 draw with Newcastle.

Jonathan Spector may return to Alan Curbishley's squad.

Aston Villa v Wigan

Curtis Davies (Achilles) and Craig Gardner (thigh) remain on the sidelines for Villa, but Martin O'Neill otherwise has a full quota to pick from.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce is missing only long-term absentee Erik Edman, and is expected to name an unchanged side from that which effectively secured Premier League survival against Reading last week.

Fulham v Birmingham

Roy Hodgson is unlikely to alter the side that won 3-2 at Manchester City last week.

For Birmingham, skipper Damien Johnson returns from suspension and is expected to slot straight into midfield.

Middlesbrough v Portsmouth

Gareth Southgate is waiting on the fitness of goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer and Brad Jones, and may be forced to blood a youth player if neither recover in time.

Portsmouth will definitely be without their first-choice stopper David James, who has a tear in his calf muscle, while understudy Jamie Ashdown is also struggling with a back injury.

Bolton v Sunderland

Kevin Davies will return to action for relegation-threatened Bolton nursing a broken hand. The striker was suspended for last week's 1-1 draw with Tottenham.

Roy Keane is expected to name an unchanged side following Sunderland's 3-2 triumph in the Teeside derby.

Reading v Tottenham

Spurs have suffered no additional injury concerns since last week's clash with Bolton, but Juande Ramos may use this fixture to experiment with his line-up.

Brynjar Gunnarsson (groin) is out for Reading, and Coppell is unlikely to shuffle his pack after last week's crucial 0-0 draw at Wigan.

Blackburn v Derby

Benni McCarthy is the only lingering concern for Mark Hughes's side, who seem likely to go with the line-up that defeated Portsmouth.

Relegated Derby were stuffed 6-2 by Arsenal in their last outing, and Paul Jewell may well make changes.

Arsenal v Everton (Sunday)

Arsene Wenger will rest Robin van Persie, after the Dutchman picked up a knock against Derby.

Arsenal will also be without the suspended Alexander Hleb, with Theo Walcott expected to continue in midfield.

Liverpool v Manchester City (Sunday)

Fernando Torres (hamstring) seems set to miss out at Anfield, with Peter Crouch and Andriy Voronin poised for a starting berth.

Rafa Benitez could also be without Martin Skrtel, and will call on Sami Hypia if the defender doesn't make it.

Micah Richards could return to action for City, but skipper Richard Dunne is unlikely to feature until the last game of the season.

Newcastle v Chelsea (Monday)

Aside from Carlo Cudicini, Chelsea will have a full compliment available for Monday's crunch clash with Newcastle.

Kevin Keegan's visitors will be without Mark Viduka (Achilles) but may welcome back James Milner, who has recovered from a bruised foot.

Will Tidey / Eurosport