SPL - Team news: Aluko row resolved

Eurosport - Sat, 19 Sep 14:20:00 2009

Team news ahead of the weekend's SPL matches, with Aberdeen's Sone Aluko set to play as his club-versus-country row is resolved.

FOOTBALL Sone Aluko of Aberdeen - 0

(All matches at 3pm on Saturday unless otherwise stated )

Aberdeen v St Mirren

Aberdeen winger Sone Aluko (pictured) is back after a row was resolved regarding his participation in the Nigeria U20 World Cup squad.

He joined up with Nigeria's training camp in Spain despite concerns over an Achilles injury but, after he came back and got the all-clear, he will play for the Dons before returning to his national team for next week's tournament in Egypt.

Defender Zander Diamond (foot) is the only other absentee for boss Mark McGhee.

Mo Camara and Steven Robb both miss St Mirren's trip to Pittodrie through injury.

Goalkeeper Chris Smith has resumed training after making a quick recovery from cruciate ligament surgery.

Smith was ruled out for up to a year in March but could return to first-team duty as early as October.

Dundee United v Motherwell

United are waiting on Senegal midfielder Morgaro Gomis, whose Achilles injury has now cleared up but has been complemented by a virus.

Scott Robertson is banned after his red card at Celtic last week, so David Robertson should start.

Captain Lee Wilkie is in the squad, but Jon Daly and Francisco Sandaza remain sidelined long term.

Motherwell's Shaun Hutchinson is doubtful for the visitors as the defender struggling with an ankle problem.

The game will come too soon for Chris Humphrey and Paul Slane, who is back in training following minor calf surgery.

Hamilton v Falkirk

Hamilton manager Billy Reid has no fresh injury concerns ahead of their Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Falkirk.

That means he is able to name the same side which defeated Hibernian last week when they welcome the SPL`s bottom side to New Douglas Park.

Only long-term casualties James Gibson (knee) and Alex Neil (hip) remain on the sidelines.

Falkirk manager Eddie May expects to have a full squad.

A couple of players suffered minor knocks in Monday's 0-0 draw with Aberdeen but May is confident they will recover.

Darren Barr will continue at centre-back after moving there in place of Marc Twaddle, who is again set for a place on the bench after being rested because of a minor back problem.

Hibernian v St Johnstone

Hibernian look likely to be forced into a goalkeeping change for the second time this season for Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Johnstone.

Graham Stack, the former Arsenal and Plymouth player recruited in the summer, has picked up a back strain and the injury is expected to allow Yves Ma-Kalambay to return between the sticks following his recovery from a thigh problem.

Hibs will also have to do without striker Colin Nish - following his red card in Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Hamilton - and full-back Kevin McCann because of a hamstring injury.

St Johnstone boss Derek McInnes is without five players. Kevin Rutkiewicz and Peter MacDonald have recovered from knee and hamstring injuries, respectively, but are not yet ready to be involved.

Graeme Smith (thigh) and Kevin Moon (groin) are still out as is long-term injury victim Andy Jackson.

Sunday September 20 (3pm)

Celtic v Hearts

Georgios Samaras is a major doubt for Celtic after the Greece striker picked up a shin injury against Hapoel Tel Aviv in the 2-1 Europa League loss at Hapoel Tek Aviv.

The former Manchester City man scored the opening goal in the match but later crashed into his own dugout.

Hearts and Lithuania defender Marius Zaliukas is set for his first league appearance of the season. He was banned for the first four SPL games of the campaign after being sent off four times last term.

Goalkeeper Janos Balogh has recovered from illness, but David Templeton (foot) is out for at least another week, while Callum Elliot (knee) and Eggert Jonsson (hernia) are still recovering from surgery.

PA Sport

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    didnt know there was an international player that far­ North.

    From Dave H, on Sat 19 Sep 8:47AM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    who rightly cares about sheepland?

    From bluenoseburger, on Sat 19 Sep 2:06AM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    who rightly cares about sheepland?

    From bluenoseburger, on Sat 19 Sep 2:06AM
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