Lee Bowyer goes straight into West Ham's squad for tomorrow's FA Premiership visit of Newcastle to Upton Park. The England midfielder signed from Leeds this week and although it is a month since his last game, Hammers boss Glenn Roeder expects him to play some part as his team search for that elusive first win at home in the league this season.
Skipper Roy Keane is Manchester United's main fitness concern as they travel to West Brom. Keane missed Tuesday's Worthington Cup draw against Blackburn with a hamstring injury and while the damage is not thought to be serious, manager Alex Ferguson will not want to take a chance with his talisman.
Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has made himself available for tomorrow's vital clash with Aston Villa. Kirkland escaped serious injury after a 68th-minute lunge from Michael Brown during Wednesday night's Worthington Cup defeat at Sheffield United. Houllier's options should be strengthened for the meeting with Graham Taylor's men with the return to the starting line-up of Michael Owen. The England striker missed two matches with a hamstring problem and started on the bench on Wednesday night, replacing goal-hero Neil Mellor in the 70th minute. Villa's former Irish international Steve Staunton will miss out on the chance to play against his old club as he recovering from hernia surgery.
Midfielders Patrick Vieira and Fredrik Ljungberg are ruled out of Arsenal's trip to Birmingham on Sunday through injury. Vieira is still troubled by a groin problem, while Ljungberg has recovered from a virus but is now suffering from an Achilles tendon injury. New signings Christophe Dugarry, Jamie Clapham and Clemence go straight into the Birmingham squad. Irish striker Clinton Morrison misses out due to suspension.
Another Irish international, Blackburn's Damien Duff, returns after missing two games with back and hamstring problems. There were fears that Duff might be ruled out until the end of the month but Rovers manager Graeme Souness has confirmed he will play against Sunderland at some stage tomorrow.
Filed by James Boylan.
