Premier League - Team news: Big guns back

Eurosport - Wed, 22 Apr 18:55:00 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are among the big names who should return for Manchester United against Portsmouth on Wednesday.

2008-2009 Champions League Porto-Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo Wayne Rooney - 0

Click the relevant links below the picture to see match facts, predicted line-ups, players to watch, injuries and suspensions.

Matches kick-off at 20:00 UK time.

Manchester United v Portsmouth

Ronaldo is expected to start while Rooney faces a late fitness test on his ankle injury.

Edwin van der Sar, John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher also stayed at home when United bowed out of the FA Cup to Everton on Sunday, while Michael Carrick is attempting to shrug off a minor knock and is rated as highly doubtful.

Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Dimitar Berbatov and Patrice Evra are all expected to return in a starting line-up containing only Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic from the semi-final team.

Scotland midfielder Fletcher is available again, having missed United's last three matches with a minor injury.

Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar will miss the trip to Old Trafford after being stretchered off with a damaged ankle in Saturday's 1-0 win over Bolton at Fratton Park after paramedics carrying oxygen equipment rushed to the scene.

Defender Younes Kaboul is also a major doubt after missing training with the thigh muscle injury that saw him replaced in the closing minutes against Bolton.

Manager Paul Hart may decide to revert England star Glen Johnson to his natural right-back role and recall winger Jermaine Pennant against the champions and league leaders.

Midfielder Sean Davis is set to be cleared to play despite reopening a cut to his knee against Bolton in his comeback from two games out.

Chelsea v Everton

Chelsea are still without two of their Portuguese stars, with right-back Jose Bosingwa and midfielder Deco both sidelined with hamstring injuries.

England midfielder Joe Cole and another Portuguese, full-back Paulo Ferreira, will not be returning this season, but otherwise manager Guus Hiddink has a full squad to choose from and may well field a side unchanged from the one which beat Arsenal at Wembley on Saturday.

Everton's injury list reads much the same as it has all year, with the strike duo of Yakubu and Victor Anichebe - as well as midfielder Mikel Arteta and defender Nuno Valente - out for the remainder of the season.

However, young striker James Vaughan came on as a substitute in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United on Sunday - scoring a penalty in the shootout - and will be on the bench at Stamford Bridge.

Brazil striker Jo also returns to the side after being cup-tied for that match.

TeamTalk / Eurosport

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  1. YEAH!!! CONGRATS TO RED DEVILS!!! SPECIAL PRAISE TO­­ SCHOLES FOR GREAT ASSIST IN HIS 600TH GAME!!!

    2­ GOALS­ FOR 3 POINTS IS BETTER THAN 4 GOALS FOR 1 POINT­­ ONLY....

    From Bali Tenno, on Wed 22 Apr 10:36PM

  2. by way am not a liverpool or man u supporter i support­ my HOMETOWN middlebrough

    From smiley123, on Wed 22 Apr 8:04PM

  3. so i see that sir alex hasnt put out all the reserves­ today thats because all he cares about is beating­ liverpool and beating liverpool and humiliating­ liverpool he cares bout nout else so he wants united to­ win so he can beat liverpool god whats his problem with­ liverpool?????

    From smiley123, on Wed 22 Apr 8:03PM

  4. YEPUROONEY......PORTSCUM WILL BE THRASHED BY MAN­ U.......THE RICHEST CLUB IN THE WORLD AGAINST THE­ BIGGEST SH1TEH0LE IN THE WORLD.......I HAVE 5 GRAND ON­ MAN U TO WIN, THATS HOW CONFIDENT I AM........BEING A­ SPURS FAN AND RICH ALSO, I CAN ONLY GUESS AT WHAT THAT­ 5 GRAND COULD BUY IN PORTSCUM.......PROBABLY THE WHOLE­ TOWN, BUT HEY, THAT'S ONE F"CK1N EXPENSIVE­ TOILET........HAPPY DAYS.............

    From ROCK AND ROLL, on Wed 22 Apr 7:39PM

  5. I like SAF, and I am a Hammers Fan for life, but by not­ allowing Tevez who is a workhorse to play regularly in­ the first team is just hurting MU, as was shown in his­ season with WHU, he takes a little time of regular­ football to get his flow going, but when he does, he­ scores goals galore, as was apparent when he was­ scoring goals for us in our relegation fight. Get rid­ of that lazy Berbatov, he doesnt play with any­ intensity, just wants a paycheck, and he hurts MUFC.

    From Nanook, on Wed 22 Apr 5:48PM

  6. i usually say give a player their first season to­ settle in, and the in their second season, if­ they're still playing poor(like nani) then get rid.­ in the case of berbatov there seems to be no effort, no­ pride and that penalty was just like berbatov's­ season- very lame. cant see him staying for long. its a­ shame cos he is talented.

    From ripped of, on Wed 22 Apr 5:20PM

  7. Only 4 out tonight with injuries things are looking up­ for chelsea

    From U R SOLES, on Wed 22 Apr 4:42PM

  8. manchester united are playing draw

    From WONDERFUL NAZU, on Wed 22 Apr 4:21PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hello, fans!I'm an amazing tall girl from UK. I­ like F1 very much. I have a blog on
    -- Seekingtall Co­ m -- I like to share the funny things of F1 with other­ fans,esp handsome guys~~

    From ada_jin, on Wed 22 Apr 4:16PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hello, fans!I'm an amazing tall girl from UK. I­ like F1 very much. I have a blog on
    -- Seekingtall Co­ m -- I like to share the funny things of F1 with other­ fans,esp handsome guys~~

    From ada_jin, on Wed 22 Apr 4:15PM

  11. Correct comments David. After seeing Bebatov's­ pathetic effort on Sunday, I would rather see him go­ now than later and spend the money on Tevez. At least­ he works hard and appears to wear the shirt with pride­ and passion. Fergie is the best and I would never say a­ bad word against him, but I think he made an error in­ Berbatov.

    From tomkbms, on Wed 22 Apr 4:14PM

  12. Mii dey thrw salute 2 all de bluez fanz clobaly &­ note say we gonma win 2dayz match

    From juliet4kd82, on Wed 22 Apr 4:05PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hello, fans!I'm an amazing tall girl from UK. I­­ like F1 very much. I have a blog on
    -- W ealthyf ind­ er Co­ m -- I like to share the funny things of F1 with­ other­ fans,esp handsome guys~~

    From lee.cherry74, on Wed 22 Apr 3:17PM

  14. united 4 de league and champions league!!!!

    From Karl, on Wed 22 Apr 2:58PM

  15. The strength of ManU has always been winning mentality­ of the squad.
    This was completely missing in their last­ game. Berbatov does not belong
    there.

    From Enaholo, on Wed 22 Apr 2:24PM

  16. After the damage done to team morale by the semi final­ defeat, United need to win and win big. Portsmouth are­ missing some key players so it could be a very good­ time to be playing them. An early goal for United is­ essential. As far as Berbatov is concerned, I don't­ think he's justifying his transfer fee just yet,­ but I remember it took a season or two for Ronaldo to­ settle. If he doesn't deliver next season though, I­ would sell him. Fergie, like all managers has made some­ great signings and some real turkeys too. What concerns­ me more than Berbatov is the Tevez issue and what­ they'll do if a deal cannot be agreed.

    From David, on Wed 22 Apr 2:20PM

  17. utd to win Arsenal,Kevin

    From shiro, on Wed 22 Apr 12:40PM

  18. Please ManU, be kind to people like me who suffer from­ excitment induced high blood pressure. Kindly go back­ to your winning ways? Berbatov should not belong to­ ManU, pleeeeeeease!

    From Bernadette, on Wed 22 Apr 12:33PM

  19. Re: DJ Vi[er, it would be good 2 c Pompey get a­ surprise draw at the "theatre of dreams"­ tonite - that would make things a bit more interesting­ at the top, and near the bottom. But it'll be­ tougher alright, as Man U like Liverpool and Chelski,­ have the "luxury" of being able to chop and­ change their squads almost whenever they like, to suit­ whichever tournament they're playing in.......
    ­ Maybe that's why it's always the same boring­ big 4 getting into the European champs­ league..........even though surely "the best of­ the rest" like Everton, Villa, or even West Ham, ­ might fancy their chances in Europe.......

    From Tony H, on Wed 22 Apr 12:32PM

  20. Well Chelski would b favourites 2 beat Everton,­ c'ing as Everton are under strength, and had 2 play­ xtra time 2 beat United. But all credit 2 Everton and­ David Moyes, considering all that. Let's hope­ Everton can get a good draw there, 2 help make up a bit­ of ground on Arsenal - to hopefully "push"­ them for the European places - along with Villa - right­ upto the end of the season....

    From Tony H, on Wed 22 Apr 12:26PM
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