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It looks likely that Toure will continue to partner Campbell in central defence for the season's opener at home to Everton tomorrow. Toure has looked good there in pre-season. Although
Martin Keown is fit again, he missed all of pre-season with a hamstring problem and is likely to be rested. Wenger says Toure has a good chance of starting but he hasn't decided yet.
The other options alongside Campbell are both injured, Cygan also with a hamstring and Senderos with his back. Igors Stepanovs is off on loan to Beveren, and Luzhny left over the summer.
Freddie Ljungberg has recovered from the shoulder injury picked up in the Community Shield loss last Sunday.
That completes the injury news. Pretty healthy-looking with only the 3rd and 4th choice centre-backs as definite absentees.
As for the line-up, it'd be surprising if we didn't see Lehmann, Cole, Lauren, Sol, Toure (or Keown), Vieira, Gilberto and Henry. The other places could go to any from Bergkamp, Wiltord, Freddie, Pires, Parlour, Edu, Jeffers.
Jeffers, incidentally, is reported to be the subject of talks betwene Arsenal and Everton, and could be returning to Goodison for a season-long loan. They're short of strikers as
Jon has already reported in his piece on Everton's preparations. In addition to the abseentees mentioned by Jon, the Toffees have Scot Gemmill (torn thigh muscle), Niclas Alexandersson (knee) and Lee Carsley (knee) out.
Incidentally, does anyone know the latest rules regarding loans between Premiership clubs? We thought it wasn't allowed but then Volz went on loan to Fulham and there's this talk about Jeffers and even Pennant having a loan spell. I thought perhaps you were allowed to loan out to another Premiership club so long as it's for the full season, but apparently the Volz deal is only till the end of the calendar year (see PlanetFootball)
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