But lots of it is good news as we've got several players coming back, or on the verge of doing so.

Most significant perhaps is David Seaman, who is fit again after a groin injury kept him out of a few games. When fit, he usually plays. It's not impossible that Shabaan will be given another game, but maybe more likely that Seaman will be given the chance to prove his fitness before the trip to Rome.

Edu is also fit again and contesting for a place. If he does play it'll probably be in Gilberto's place as his fellow Brazilian has had a knackering trip to South Korea this week.

Freddie Ljungberg, who missed the Sweden game, may be fit in time for the match but is not certain. Lauren is definitely out so Luzhny will presumably continue at right-back (where he's been having his best spell since joining the club).

Up front, Bergkamp is fit and expected to play... alongside Henry we'd have thought. Thierry limped off with 15 minutes of the North London derby to go, having felt his hamstring. But he played most of France's convincing win over Yugoslavia in midweek and had a big hand in a couple of the goals. Kanu is awaiting tests on a knee cartilage problem. The fact that Wenger is unlikely to ask Bergkamp to drive to Rome for Wednesday's match makes him a near certainty for this match.

Of the longer-term injuries, Parlour won't be back in full training till Monday. Keown is back in full training but seems unlikely to come straight in without a reserve game or two, not while Campbell and Cygan are available.

Southampton have Mark Draper out till December following an operation on his ankle. But Agustin Delgado is back after a year out with multiple knee ops. That could be it as far as absent Saints are concerned, that's all the injury news I can find and they've no-one suspended.

Rupe adds...
(on Friday) Midfielder Anders Svensson is a big doubt for the Saints. He will have a late fitness test on a thigh injury picked up during Sweden's 3-3 draw with the Czech Republic in midweek, but Sweden's doctor has said he shouldn't play. Rory Delap is on standby to replace him.

reports suggest Delgado could play, but Beattie looks the man to watch out for. He's scored 6 in as many matches. Southampton are unbeaten in 9 games at St Mary's, and have drawn more at home than any other Premiership side.

Ananova reckon Henry is a doubt. If so, either Jeffers will partner Bergkamp, or Wiltord will move up front with presumably Freddie or Kolo taking his wing slot.

The Sun quotes Le Boss as saying that France has assured him that Henry would play 45 minutes at most against Yugoslavia, seeing as he was injured. So he's understandably miffed, seeing as they decided to rest Vieira instead (and only gave Wiltord half an hour). He confirms that he hasn't decided yet whether to play Thierry, "I might consider leaving him out but, luckily for me, Henry is physically strong and - because he is young - he can recover very well in between matches. It would be a gamble to play Thierry but it is a big game against Southampton as we head for the crucial Christmas period."