On the stretcher

Dean Ashton The ankle injury he suffered in training is a serious one that will keep him out for the rest of the season. Now fit enough to run the treadmill.

Danny Gabbidon Abdominal injury (?), no date set for return. Is said to be running. When it comes to Gabbidon one has to be content with every tiny bit of progress.

Terry Dixon Oh how I wish the best for this kid! Dixon has according to some reports suffered lots of minor setbacks. His kneecap problem seem OK but, as is often the case, several other strains (groin, calf) appear when coming back from a lengthy layoff. Now the official word is that he is ”working hard on a personal program to return to full fitness”

Jack Collison suffered a nasty kneecap (dislocation) injury in the Wigan game (kneecap problems seem to be "the new black")! He played the last 15 minutes against Stoke and could be in the starting lineup agains Liverpool

James Collins. A calf strain picked up in the Bolton game keeps him sidelined. Maybe back for the “Everton game” says the official sources.

Valon Behrami suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury against Man C. He will be out until the beginning of next season as the knee needs an operation. This kind of injury is unpredictable and I hope that he will not suffer further setbacks.

Kieron Dyer played an hour against Villa and Chelsea but his body does not seem to like football. Can’t even remember what the last thing he picked up was but after such a lengthy layoff all kinds of stuff has to be rebuilt and Dyer is struggling with that.

Carlton Cole is recovering from the groin injury he “aggravated” in the England game against Slovakia. The official word is that he is “unlikely” for the Liverpool game, which is good news to me.

Scott Parkers groin injury still keeps him out of contention. I doubt we will see him anymore this season and that may well cost us that 7th spot!