1. Manchester United Phil Bardsley, the full back, is to cut short his spell on loan to Rangers after failing to resolve differences with Paul Le Guen, the Scottish club’s manager. His return comes amid concerns that Gary Neville’s calf injury may require surgery.
Played 13 Won 11 Drawn 1 Lost 1 For 29 Against 6 Points 34
2. Chelsea Carlo Cudicini has revealed his determination to hold on to the first-choice goalkeeping position. “I’ve been given the shirt and want to keep hold of it for as long as I can,” he said. “I will do everything I can to play.”
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Played 13 Won 10 Drawn 1 Lost 2 For 23 Against 7 Points 31
3. Portsmouth Glen Johnson is to return to the club’s defence before Christmas and hopes have been raised that he will not need surgery on a torn thigh muscle. The right back, on loan from Chelsea, is back in training with the West London club.
Played 13 Won 7 Drawn 2 Lost 4 For 19 Against 11 Points 23
4. Arsenal Francesc Fàbregas insists that the club will try to win their final Champions League group match away to FC Porto, despite needing only a point to qualify. “We won’t go for a draw,” the Spain midfield player said. “We always play to win.”
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Played 12 Won 6 Drawn 4 Lost 2 For 20 Against 7 Points 22
5. Aston Villa Martin O’Neill will decide today whether to recall Lee Hendrie from his loan spell with Stoke City. “I’ll look to see whether we have Gavin McCann [sickness] back, how [Stilian] Petrov [hamstring] is and those type of things,” the manager said.
Played 13 Won 5 Drawn 7 Lost 1 For 15 Against 9 Points 22
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6. Bolton Wanderers Kevin Nolan is flattered by speculation linking him with a move to Everton. “I have heard the rumours as my Mum and Dad rang to tell me,” the midfield player said. “It’s fantastic to be linked with a big club, but I’m really happy at Bolton.”
Played 13 Won 6 Drawn 3 Lost 4 For 12 Against 12 Points 21
7. Everton Tim Cahill is confident of returning quicker than expected from the knee injury he suffered against Aston Villa on November 11. “I have recovered from major injuries quite quickly before,” the midfield player, who has been ruled out until January, said.
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Played 13 Won 5 Drawn 5 Lost 3 For 17 Against 11 Points 20
8. Reading James Harper, the midfield player, believes that the team can claim a top-six place this season. “I fancy ourselves for that if we can carry on this momentum,” he said. “I think we can do it.” Simon Cox, the striker, has moved to Brentford on loan.
Played 13 Won 6 Drawn 1 Lost 6 For 15 Against 18 Points 19
9. Wigan Athletic Leighton Baines, the full back, has targeted the match away to Middlesbrough on December 9 for his comeback from a calf injury. “It looks like we are going to be without him for maybe two or three more weeks,” Paul Jewell, the manager, said.
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Played 12 Won 5 Drawn 3 Lost 4 For 16 Against 13 Points 18
10. Liverpool Danny O’Donnell, the 20-year-old central defender, is to stay with Crewe Alexandra on loan for the rest of the season. “I’m sure he will only develop and get better by playing first-team matches here,” Dario Gradi, the Crewe manager, said.
Played 13 Won 5 Drawn 3 Lost 5 For 14 Against 15 Points 18
11. Fulham Chris Coleman has been keeping an eye on Ben Watson, the Crystal Palace midfield player, who has 18 months left on his contract at Selhurst Park. The England Under-21 international has also attracted interest from Bolton Wanderers.
Played 13 Won 4 Drawn 5 Lost 4 For 14 Against 19 Points 17
12. Manchester City Joey Barton believes that he “can’t be ignored much longer” by Steve McClaren, the England head coach, if he maintains his impressive form. “I’ll just keep my head down, keep doing what I need to do for City,” the midfield player said.
Played 13 Won 4 Drawn 4 Lost 5 For 10 Against 15 Points 16
13. Tottenham Hotspur It is likely to be about six months before the club learn the outcome of their appeal to the planning inspectorate after Enfield Council rejected an application to build a £30-million training facility in September.
Played 13 Won 4 Drawn 4 Lost 5 For 10 Against 15 Points 16
14. Middlesbrough Jonathan Woodgate is unconcerned about the team’s league position. “I am only thinking one way and that is, we will start to climb the league and get into Europe,” the defender said. “That is what I’m thinking when I approach every game.”
Played 13 Won 4 Drawn 3 Lost 6 For 10 Against 16 Points 15
15. Blackburn Rovers Mark Hughes is amazed that Tugay Kerimoglu, the former Turkey midfield player, was not signed by one of the Premiership’s top clubs. “Maybe he will wonder why he didn’t win more trophies in English football,” the manager said.
Played 13 Won 3 Drawn 4 Lost 6 For 11 Against 17 Points 13
16. West Ham United Sir Trevor Brooking has urged the new owners to maintain the club’s tradition of nurturing English talent. “It is a sensitive one because of my FA involvement, but my concern is to make sure we develop young English players,” he said.
Played 13 Won 3 Drawn 2 Lost 8 For 9 Against 16 Points 11
17. Newcastle United Shola Ameobi has had surgery on his long-term hip injury and the club are awaiting details of the operation, which took place in an American clinic. “It’s early days, but the surgeon seems delighted,” Glenn Roeder, the manager, said.
Played 13 Won 2 Drawn 4 Lost 7 For 8 Against 15 Points 10
18. Sheffield United Paul Ifill, who is on international duty with Barbados, could be added to the list of players available for loan after it emerged that Leeds United, Sunderland and Stoke City are interested in the winger.
Played 13 Won 2 Drawn 4 Lost 7 For 8 Against 18 Points 10
19. Watford The messageboards on the club’s website have been closed after lawyers said the club could be sued for libel over some postings. “Some of the material has been hurtful to players and staff members,” Graham Simpson, the chairman, said.
Played 13 Won 1 Drawn 6 Lost 6 For 10 Against 19 Points 9
20. Charlton Athletic Dennis Rommedahl has called on the club to stay calm as they battle to get out of trouble at the foot of the table. “We have the players,” the winger said. “What we need is to be a bit calmer in our decision with the final ball.”
Played 13 Won 2 Drawn 2 Lost 9 For 9 Against 20 Points 8