Gio has just made it back from a long-term knee injury. He's looked solid since coming back, especially against PSV last week, when he dropped back to left-back when Kolo Toure got sent off. But he might have been expecting to have to get a bit more first team action before getting back into the Dutch squad. The gap he's filling is due to an injury to our mate Marc van Bommel.

Meanwhile there are reports that Nic Anelka has refused a call-up to the French squad. "This call-up is rather forced and I can't approve it if I feel that at the same time I'm not wanted,", he said, adding confusingly "I've always been proud to wear the blue shirt, and I hope my choice will be respected."

The French coach had asked Anelka to cover for Sidney Govou, the Lyon striker who has been ruled out through injury. It's possible that Henry will drop out too, although as yet we've heard nothing on the injury which saw him come off against Tottenham on Saturday.

And Arsene Wenger has been moaning (very gently) about Gilberto's call-up for Brazil. He's due to go to Asia for a friendly against South Korea, a 13 hour trip each way, for 45 minutes of football (as Le Boss put it). It seems likely that Gilberto will miss the Southampton game. But the good news is that England are having a get-together without a match, so Campbell and Cole shouldn't be picking up injuries in the coming round of internationals.