Fridays always have the potential to bring better news on the injury front, what with Wenger's press conference, and there was certainly plenty of good news today.

From a list that that seemed earlier on this week to be mushrooming out of control, things now look a bit more normal, don't they?

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Sir Alex Ferguson reckons the reason behind the delay in Owen Hargreaves' return is the player's lacking confidence after over a year without football.

"He is training very well," Ferguson said. "It is more of a confidence thing for the lad to come back into real full training with us.

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Ahead of Barcelona's match against Athletic Club Bilbao the team was handed another blow going into a very important week for the team. Eric Abidal was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus also known as "swine flu" on top of already being sidelined for up to three weeks with a leg injury.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic suffered a slight leg strain back on Nov. 7 against Mallorca that kept the striker out of international duty with Sweden this past week. Ibrahimovic began training this week in preparation for Saturday's match on the road against Athletic Club Bilbao.

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News has come in from Newcastle United's official website that Tyneside's messiest hitman, Shola Ameobi, will definitely be returning to training next week after the big lump went and knacked his foot while getting into the swing of what could have been the most prolific scoring period of his career so far. Click to continue reading...

The great entertainers, and the great source of fantasy points over the years. Also, a great source of injury frustration as year after year players come in and disappear into the training room only to reappear briefly and inevitably too early, finding themselves injured all over again.The latest blow is of course Robin van Persie being ruled out for two months with ankle ligament damage. Click to continue reading...

AP Photo/Sang TanFor a brief moment, it looked as if a true push for first place looked likely for Arsenal. With Chelsea amassing injuries, and the Gunners only five points back with a game in hand, November 29th looked like a right time to sta... Click to continue reading...

So what's going on? Well hey guess what this evening Kieran Gibbs has picked up the now mandatory injury playing in the England U21 qualifier away to Lithuania. We await further news, but who thought, when we lined up for the season with three left-footed left-backs, that where left-backs were concerned, we were a touch over-subscribed?

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Yes, no, maybe, no, no, yes, no, yes, maybe, maybe, yesI want nothing more than to break down the injury situation this week in a clear and useful fashion. I'm afraid that I won't be able do it though. There are so many injuries to so many high-profile players - and so many questions hanging around the extent of some of these injuries - that I know I'm going to miss something. Click to continue reading...

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Barcelona received the bad news that they were dreading today regarding defender Eric Abidal. Team doctors confirmed the left leg injury that Abidal suffered in France's World Cup playoff match against Ireland.

The injury comes at a very bad time with the matches coming up in the next week against Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

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Fergie: Doesn't like the BBC AP Photo/Mikhail MetzelSir Alex, 'Arry, and Fat Sam may have to talk to the Beeb after all. [Telegraph]Maradona gets a two-month ban, but won't miss any real games. A few things he said at his heari... Click to continue reading...

In what seems to be a classic case of that old expression (translated here for the benefit of all our readers) known as 'Keeping the Mouth', Wenger's masterstroke forward has been done in by those devious Italians.

And so it happens.

There's a reason why the knowledgeable football fan thinks 59 times on an average before calling Arsenal title contenders.

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What the hell is going on with our injuries at the moment. As reported on here before, Jose Bosingwa is out. Ashley Cole is out and we are yet to have confirmation when he will return. Frank Lampard is out for three weeks. Didier Drogba has now been confirmed as out for three weeks with a rib injury suffered when Jonny Evans peformed his Karate Kick on him and got away with it and John Terry had to pull out of the England v Brazil game with an ankle problem but he hopes to be fit to face Wolves next weekend. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal have been rocked by an injury to star striker Robin van Persie which could see the Dutchman ruled out of action for around two months.

Van Persie was stretchered off during Holland's goalless friendly draw in Italy on Saturday night.

He damaged his ankle in a challenge with Giorgio Chiellini in the early stages of the clash.

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! Article Start >Well, you just can't stop Chris Hughton at the moment. This time, he's been talking about the return of Shola Ameobi, who broke his foot after scoring in a 4-3 cup thriller against the mighty Huddersfield on 26th August. Hughton said he has high hopes for a Bambi's return to the Newcastle [. Click to continue reading...

Firstly, I would like to wish Carlo a speedy recovery.
Right, now that I've got that out of the way, I would like to ask what our keeper was doing on a motorbike? I only ask, because after researching the accident rate (you can find that here in the Department of Transport In Depth Study of Motorcycle Accidents) of motorcycles, it's quite clear that all and sundry should stay well clear of them, let alone 35,000 per week professional footballers. Click to continue reading...

36 year old Tottenham Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini was involved in a serious accident Thursday morning when his BMW motorbike collided with a Ford Fiesta in Walthamstow. Click to continue reading...

There is very little sympathy in general for the 'plight' (if you could call it that) for the modern professional footballer. Incredibly well paid. Material possessions beyond our wildest dreams. Greatest job in the world. Stunning woman on arm. Does it get much better? Well, not if you are the playboy type. Click to continue reading...

We lack the squad depth to cope with injuries to several key players at the same time. So it looks like the international break has arrived at the right time to allow some of them to recover.
Riera & Benayoun both picked up hamstring injuries against Birmingham. Agger & Johnson both pulled out of their international squads so they can get treatment on minor injuries. Click to continue reading...

Not much to say really. Just take a peek at this video of New Mexico's Elizabeth Lambert as she go mental on the opposition... Enjoy! Posted in Blogroll, Controversies, Footballers Gone Wild, Injuries, WAGs Tagged: Elizabeth Lambert, Lobos, New Mexico Click to continue reading...

We won't see Bendtner or Clichy again for a monthvia Sky Sports:Arsenal defender Gael Clichy is facing a month on the sidelines after suffering a suspected stress fracture in his lower back.The left-back is an integral member of Arsene Wenger's first XI but has been forced onto the treatment table after sustaining the injury. Click to continue reading...

In happier timesvia Yahoo!UK/Eurosport:Tottenham's injury problems show no signs of abating, as Sebastien Bassong has revealed he is likely to be out for a month with a hamstring problem.The classy Cameroon defender played the entire 90 minutes of Spurs' 3-0 defeat at Arsenal on Saturday, but manager Harry Redknapp said after the game that Bassong had picked up an injury. Click to continue reading...

Just some random odds and ends for you to read as you bide your time waiting for Lyon's Champions League clash with Liverpool.

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< Sid's Serious Captain-y Face.

If you're wondering why the captain's armband showed up on Cris last Saturday, despite Sidney Govou also being on the pitch, it's because our dear (former?

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Okay, so first things first...the MLS HQ troglodytes should be ashamed of themselves. Fining Payne $5k for criticizing other teams' style of play? Shameful...and predictable. Also predictable? Payne's apology. But what to make of this bit of... Click to continue reading...

In addition to last night's victory, a positive was that it was achieved with a number of players who - through injury - had yet to really feature for the side this season.
In his post-match comments, Mark Hughes singled out Roque Santa Cruz and Michael Johnson in particular:

"Roque got a start and a goal as well.

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REUTERS/Felix Ordonez

It is expected that Thierry Henry will receive medical clearance this week and will be activated for Sundays league match up against Osasuna.

Henry has been sidelined for just over a month due to a hamstring injury but has been training with the team and looks to be close to match fitness.

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via Yahoo!UK/Eurosport:Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa is facing several weeks on the sidelines after damaging knee ligaments during the 3-1 win at Burnley on Saturday.Figueroa had to leave the field after only 28 minutes at Turf Moor having sustained the injury, while team-mate Paul Scharner required 10 stitches stitches in a facial wound he picked up creating the Latics' third goal for Emmerson Click to continue reading...

Some concerns ahead of Wednesday visit of Scunthorpe following the draw with Fulham:

"We will check everyone out today. We have a number of doubts but we have guys who can come in," said disappointed manager Mark Hughes.
"Martin took a bang on a knee which has been sore for a while now, but hopefully it won't be too serious.

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They Think It's All Over... is bemused by the scheduling of Everton's Carling Cup tie with Tottenham. Click to continue reading...

REUTERS/Albert Gea

Dmytro Chygrynskiy on Thursday received clearance to return to training following a knee injury back on Sept. 26 against Malaga.

Chygrynskiy completed his first full training session on Friday since the injury and was immediately examined by doctors. Following the examination the medical staff gave Chygrynskiy a clean bill of health and was given clearance to return to the team.

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Manchester United secured three points in Moscow without the services of our four best performing players this season: Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra and Darren Fletcher.

Ahead of our trip to Anfield on Sunday, half of these players will be available, but who do you think we need the most?

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They Think It's All Over... is telling himself that Everton's Europa League defeat isn't the end of the world. Click to continue reading...

Everton lost badly today, but their injury situation is what will worry fantasy managers.To add to Moyes' injury woes, Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov ended the match with a strapping to his thigh and is doubtful for the Barclays Premier League match at Bolton on Sunday.Moyes added: "We will need to assess him when we get back as well. Click to continue reading...

Points dropped, not a big deal

I was very close to lauding Alex Song to the heavens last night when he dropped his guard as to be honest did the rest of the Arsenal defence in the 93rd minute, enabling AZ Alkmaar to equalise.

He did have a terrific game, but he's not the polished gem we would yet have him to be, even though his improvement has been spectacular.

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REUTERS/Albert Gea

Late in the second half of yesterdays Champions League defeat against Rubin Kazan Dani Alves came up limp following a routine play. No contact was made with Alves but following a pass he hobbled and then went down. Guardiola immediately substituted Busquets in for the injured Alves.

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