標題: Premier League - Team news: Ballack doubt [打印本頁] 作者: cchl8 時間: 2008-8-24 06:03 PM 標題: Premier League - Team news: Ballack doubt
Premier League - Team news: Ballack doubt
Michael Ballack is a doubt for Chelsea's trip to Wigan in one of two Premier League games to be played on Sunday.
Steve Bruce will wait to assess his international players before making any decisions for the visit of Chelsea.
Eight of the Latics squad were away on midweek duty with their countries and could be in need of rest. Ryan Taylor is back from a shin injury and Jason Koumas is pushing for a starting berth after scoring for Wales on Wednesday.
Michael Ballack is a doubt for the trip to the JJB Stadium with a foot injury. Florent Malouda is standing by should the German fail a late fitness test. Up front, Nicolas Anelka is set to start again as Didier Drogba is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines following knee surgery. Manchester City v West Ham (16:00 BST)
New signing Vincent Kompany could go straight into the City squad for the visit of West Ham, but Mark Hughes is likely to stick with his central defensive partnership of Tal Ben Haim and Micah Richards in the absence of Richard Dunne (suspension).
City have problems in the striking department with Valeri Bojinov, Benjani and Darius Vassell all out injured and Jo still away on Olympic duty.
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley may be able to call on Dean Ashton (calf) and Scott Parker (thigh) for the trip to Eastlands, but Anton Ferdinand and Craig Bellamy remain on the sidelines with the injured George McCartney, Kieron Dyer, Nigel Quashie, Danny Gabbidon, James Collins and Jonathan Spector. Portsmouth v Manchester United (Monday 20:00 BST) Owen Hargreaves (tendonitis) and Park Ji-Sung (knee) have trained with the rest of the squad but are unlikely to be passed fit for Monday's late kick-off. Michael Carrick remains out with an ankle injury but Anderson will not be rushed back from the Olympics to bolster the midfield.
Instead, John O'Shea is set to fill in for the England international, while Carlos Tevez is back in contention after a family bereavement and Nani completes a three-game ban.
Pompey midfielder Niko Kranjcar is doubtful after picking up an injury playing for Croatia in midweek.
Former Arsenal midfielder Lassana Diarra, however, is fit again after picking up a knew problem in the 4-0 defeat to another of his previous clubs, Chelsea.
