Soccer

Toure set to return for Gunners

Premiership news: Defender Kolo Toure is available for Arsenal's trip to Wigan tomorrow after sitting out the draw at Chelsea…

Tue Dec 12 2006 - 00:00

Premiership news:Defender Kolo Toure is available for Arsenal's trip to Wigan tomorrow after sitting out the draw at Chelsea at the weekend through suspension.

William Gallas (thigh), Thierry Henry (neck) and Tomas Rosicky (groin/hamstring) remain unavailable for the game at the JJB Stadium while Abou Diaby (ankle) and Lauren (knee) remain longer-term absentees.

Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has been declared fit for the game  after needing an overnight stay in hospital on Saturday following a collision with a team-mate in the 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

Striker Emile Heskey returns from a one-match ban.Emile Heskey returns from a one-match ban, but midfielder Paul Scharner serves a one-game suspension, while Arjan de Zeeuw, Gary Teale, Antonio Valencia, Steve McMillan, Svetoslav Todorov and Ryan Taylor are on the injured list.

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Arsenal (from):Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Djourou, Senderos, Clichy, Ljungberg, Fabregas, Gilberto, Hleb, van Persie, Almunia, Walcott, Adebayor, Baptista, Hoyte, Song, Flamini.

Wigan (from):Kirkland, Jackson, Hall, Camara, Kilbane, McCulloch, Johansson, Landzaat, Heskey, Boyce, Cotterill, Skoko, Baines, Wright, Webster, Pollitt

Italian goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini remains doubtful for Chelsea's clash with Newcastle at Stamford Bridge .

Cudicini missed the 1-1 draw with Arsenal last Sunday because of a leg muscle injury and if he fails to recover in time, Hilario will continue in goal.

Joe Cole is out for a month with a broken foot but coach Jose Mourinho has no other major injury worries.

Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt has given manager Glenn Roeder a rare boost by shaking off a virus ahead of the game.

Striker Antoine Sibierski should also be fit after his hamstring problem at Blackburn at the weekend proved to be cramp, while Kieron Dyer (thigh) and Scott Parker (back muscle) could be fit for the clash with Watford on Saturday.

However, Emre (ankle) and Nolberto Solano (groin) have joined Michael Owen, Damien Duff and Tim Krul (all knee), Shola Ameobi and Olivier Bernard (both hip), Craig Moore (hamstring), Titus Bramble (calf), Stephen Carr (foot) and Steve Harper (groin) on the injury list.

Chelsea (from):Hilario, Cudicini, Hedman, Ferreira, Carvalho, Geremi, Terry, Boulahrouz, Bridge, A Cole, Lampard, Essien, Makelele, Ballack, Kalou, Drogba, Shevchenko, Wright-Phillips, Robben, Diarra.

Newcastle (from):Given, Srnicek, Taylor, Ramage, Huntington, Babayaro, Butt, N'Zogbia, Milner, Pattison, Troisi, Gate, Edgar, Martins, Sibierski, Luque, Rossi, Carroll.