John McGinlay is expected to have recovered from an Achilles strain
John McGinlay is expected to have recovered from an Achilles strain.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United’s leading goalscorer last season, is likely to be in the squad. The Norwegian striker has not played since taking a kick on his ankle during a pre-season friendly with Internazionale. Teddy Sheringham could play after recovering from cracked ribs, and Ryan Giggs may return, after missing the midweek Champions’ League win against Kosice in Slovakia because of a hamstring problem. Darryl Powell, who is due for a scan on a knee injury, has been ruled out and defender Matt Carbon is out for six weeks after he damaged his Achilles in training. Derby are looking for their first away points of the season after 1-0 defeats at Blackburn and Tottenham.Bolton v Manchester UtdBlake 3 Leading scorer Cole, KeaneLast season: No fixture Beckham 2South African defender Mark Fish should make his debut for Bolton after finally being granted a work permit.
Mike Whitlow, signed yesterday from Leicester for pounds 500,000, could also start, helping to alleviate an injury crisis that has seen half the squad in for treatment in the past week. Alan Thompson (ankle), Gerry Taggart (hamstring) and Scott Sellars (thigh strain) are all doubtful, while Robbie Elliott (leg) and Neil Cox (hamstring) are out. Calls for the head of Gerry Francis, first heard during the collapse at Leicester, could surface again if they labour against Blackburn.Yet the manager under the greatest pressure is David Pleat. Sheffield Wednesday took maximum points from the first four games a year ago, but receive Coventry lying 19th and smarting from a 2-0 defeat at Grimsby.Aston Villa v DerbyYorke 2 Leading scorer Sturridge, EranioLast season: 2-0 Powell, HuntWanchope 1Aston Villa’s Yugoslav midfielder Sasa Curcic is likely to start his first match of the season, having impressed with his appearance as a second-half substitute against Bordeaux in Tuesday’s 0-0 Uefa Cup tie. Simon Grayson, who was taken off against Bordeaux after falling ill, has recovered and Brian Little has an otherwise fit squad to choose from as his side go in search of their third win in a row.Danish international Jacob Laursen will play for Derby despite having a broken nose.
The defender missed the Rams’ mid-week Coca-Cola Cup victory over Southend after suffering the broken nose in last week’s 3-1 win over Everton but has declared himself fit. Lee Carsley should return after recovering from a dead leg, as should Stefano Eranio (hamstring) and Igor Stimac (knee). Howard Kendall knows Danny Wilson’s wiles all too well from his previous job, Barnsley having embarrassed Sheffield United twice last season.Spurs would have been in crisis had they not scored two late goals to win 3-2 against their Second Division visitors. West Ham introduce Ian Pearce against Faustino Asprilla after his pounds 2.3m move from Blackburn.The capital’s early challengers, Chelsea and Arsenal, tangle tomorrow, having endured mixed fortunes in Europe. The rival managers, Ruud Gullit and Arsene Wenger, will send out line-ups largely devoid of Englishmen. But exciting as the prospect of Gianfranco Zola and Dennis Bergkamp pulling the strings may be, Gullit’s predecessor, Hoddle, would probably settle for Ian Wright emerging unscathed by controversy or injury.Another sign of the times was the sight of Everton and Tottenham – self- elected members of the “Big Five” before Newcastle blew that conceit out of the water – scraping slender Coca-Cola Cup wins over Scunthorpe and Carlisle respectively, while supposedly lesser brethren were stepping out in Madrid and Bordeaux.Everton contest points with Barnsley for the first time in 45 years knowing that anything less than victory would prompt severe unrest among the Goodison Park faithful.