Premiership Preview (23-27/12/06)

Pompey welcome Sheffield United to Fratton Park in our latest and first festive seasonal Barclays Premiership match, three points would be a much welcome Christmas present! What about the others…

Saturday, 23/12/06
Arsenal v Blackburn, 15:00
Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini return after injury but Emmanuel Eboue (ankle) will miss out, joining William Gallas, Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg.

Aaron Mokoena is a doubt, whilst Benni McCarthy (suspension) will play no part. Stephane Henchoz (suspension), Zurab Khizanishvili and Brett Emerton (both injury) should all be available.

Aston Villa v Man Utd, 15:00
Gavin McCann (hamstring) could miss out; Craig Gardner stands by with Villa unlikely to make any other changes.

Patrice Evra (calf) is the only absentee for United whilst Alan Smith is still returning to full fitness after his injuries.

Fulham v West Ham, 12:45
Simon Elliott, Mark Pembridge and Jimmy Bullard have long term injuries while Papa Bouba Diop (thigh), Luis Boa Morte (hamstring) and Ian Pearce (back) are almost certainly out while Claus Jensen is doubtful.

After a seven-month drug ban Shaun Newton back. West Ham have no new injury worries and Danny Gabbidon (hamstring) will be back shortly.

Liverpool v Watford, 15:00
In a rare turn of events Rafa Benitez may field an unchanged side! But with so many games coming up he may opt against this.

James Chambers (gashed ankle) is out along with Clarke Carlisle and Marlon King (long-term injuries) whilst Ben Foster (knee) is unlikely to be fit.

Man City v Bolton, 15:00
Micah Richards (dead leg) should return, while Claudio Reyna also returns from injury and Ben Thatcher from suspension. Dietmar Hamann (back) and Bernardo Corradi (suspension) are out.

Quinton Fortune remains unavailable but El-Hadji Diouf returns from suspension, however Kevin Davies is now suspended himself so misses out. Tal Ben Haim and Ricardo Gardner are looking for recalls.

Middlesbrough v Charlton, 15:00
Jonathan Woodgate (ankle) and Emanuel Pogatetz (suspension) return but Robert Huth will be out for a while with injury and Abel Xavier (hamstring) is doubtful.

Dennis Rommedahl (foot), Radostin Kishishev (calf), Darren Ambrose (knee) and Hermann Hreidarsson (Achilles) all require fitness tests to make the game. Andy Reid (hamstring) and Luke Young (knee) are out whilst Jerome Thomas (virus) is doubtful.

Newcastle v Tottenham, 15:00
Titus Bramble and Craig Moore are long term casualties amoung the injuries at St James, Kieron Dyer and Nolberto Solano should be OK to continue though, while Paul Huntington should retain his place.

Aaron Lennon (knee) is unlikely to play whilst Jermaine Jenas and Robbie Keane are still injured. Hossam Ghaly returns from injury, Ledley King from being rested and Didier Zokora from suspension.

Reading v Everton, 15:00
Other than Dave Kitson (appendix operation) and Bobby Convey (knee) Reading have no new fresh injury concerns.

Mikel Arteta, Phil Neville, Leon Osman and Nuno Valente should all be OK after returning from injury last weekend with no negative reactions.

Wigan v Chelsea, 17:15
Henri Camara (knee) is doubtful and Lee McCulloch suspended so finally Svetoslav Todorov could make his full Wigan debut! Gary Teale, Paul Scharner, Ryan Taylor, Antonio Valencia and Steve McMillan miss out.

Joe Cole (foot) is still out and John Terry (back) is again doubtful, Khalid Boulahrouz stands-by. Carlo Cudicini (muscle injury) is also a doubt.


A Premiership review will take place on Saturday's games Saturday evening or Sunday morning with a review of the Boxing Day games and Wednesday's game taking place on Wednesday. With it being the Christmas season I will not be doing a Premiership preview for these games however but here are the fixtures anyway.

Boxing Day will see us travel to Upton Park as we face West Ham under their new management in the shape of Alan Curbishley also fresh from victory over Man United.

Tuesday, 26/12/06
Blackburn v Liverpool, 15:00
Bolton v Newcastle, 15:00
Chelsea v Reading, 13:00
Everton v Middlesbrough, 15:00
Man Utd v Wigan, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Man City, 15:00
Tottenham v Aston Villa, 13:00
Watford v Arsenal, 17:30
West Ham v Portsmouth, 13:00

Wednesday, 27/12/06
Charlton v Fulham, 20:00

Merry Christmas to everyone, lets hope Santa brings Pompey plenty of points!

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