News in brief of English Premier League Club - Fri 14th Nov

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Wigan Athletic

Steve Bruce is confident goalkeeper Chris Kirkland will be fit enough for the trip to face Newcastle United on Saturday. Kirkland played through the pain during Wednesday's Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal, after injuring his lower back in the opening stages of the match. It is a problem which has plagued the 27-year-old keeper for some time, but Bruce is sure the injury is being kept in check and Kirkland will be fit to play on. He said: "Kirky hurt his back the first time he kicked the ball in the opening two or three minutes - he jarred himself. The problem is his back stiffens up when he has to get on trains, planes and buses to travel to matches. We try to manage it, and to be fair, Kirky hasn't missed much for us. It's preventative stuff, making sure we look after him right between games so he's ready to play."

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West Ham United

Gianfranco Zola has faced up to one of his biggest tests in football by holding a team meeting to sort out the problems that have led to six matches without a win. Zola's managerial career started with two Barclays Premier League victories on the trot but the Hammers have recorded just a point since and are hovering above the relegation zone heading into Saturday's match against Portsmouth. The 3-1 defeat to Everton, after leading with seven minutes remaining, left Zola frustrated - and the squad went through their problems in a frank meeting. Zola said: "We had a chat and confrontation and I think that was a positive thing, and now on the pitch we will see whether it gives us positive results or not. We are aware of the situation. We know what we need to improve if we want to end matches on the winning side instead of the losing side. The players believe in that and they want to react and sort out the situation. That is encouraging."

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West bromwich albion

West Bromwich Albion Defender Gianni Zuiverloon has set his sights on forcing his way into the Holland squad for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. Zuiverloon has created a favourable impression at right-back since making the summer switch from Heerenveen despite the Baggies currently propping up the Barclays Premier League table. He was one of the star players when Holland won the 2007 UEFA Under-21 Championships in his native country - after a dramatic 13-12 penalty shootout win over England in the semi-finals. And Zuiverloon followed up that experience by being part of the Dutch squad which competed in this summer's Olympic Games in China. But playing on football's biggest stage is the ultimate dream for the former Feyenoord player. Zuiverloon said: "I learnt so much from playing in that Under-21 tournament back home, against the very best players in our age group, and the Olympics was also a great experience. I had the chance to face some of the best players in the world, including (Lionel) Messi and (Juan Roman) Riquelme, and I learnt a lot from those games. But, of course, I would like to play for the full national team, and I definitely want to try to go to the next World Cup in South Africa in a couple of years' time."

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Sunderland

Kenwyne Jones is ready to lead the fight for Sunderland once again after playing down his latest injury scare. The 24-year-old Trinidad and Tobago striker made a surprise return to the starting line-up in Wednesday night's 2-1 Carling Cup defeat by Blackburn Rovers, just a day after being sent to see a specialist. Manager Roy Keane had ruled him out of the match after he hurt the same knee he injured in a collision with England keeper David James in June at the end of training last Friday. However, having now been given the all-clear, Jones is raring to go. He said: "Even when I hurt myself slightly last week, I was sure it would be OK. For safety reasons, I went to see the specialist and he confirmed everything is fine. I think the management and the medical staff were more worried about it than I was. I have had experience with the injury now and I always had faith that what happened in training last week was nothing major. Everything worked out and now I'm just concentrating on pushing on."

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Stoke City

Ricardo Fuller has backed fellow striker Dave Kitson to get his first goal for the club sooner rather than later. Kitson has failed to score for the Potters since signing from Reading in the summer but after an impressive performance in the midweek Carling Cup victory, Fuller believes a good run in front of goal can't be too far away. With Mamady Sidibe a doubt for Saturday's match at Manchester United with the ankle injury picked up at Wigan Athletic last weekend, Kitson could return to partner the Jamaican for the trip to Old Trafford. Fuller said: "He just needs a goal to kick-start it his season. Every striker goes through a period like this but hopefully it'll be over soon, maybe even on Saturday. Dave's a fantastic player, let's not forget what he's done before in the past. He's done really well at Reading and that's why he's here at Stoke."

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Portsmouth

Charlton Athletic defender Linvoy Primus admits his future is up in the air following the recent managerial change at Portsmouth. Primus has a month left of his loan spell from Fratton Park and does not yet know whether new Pompey boss Tony Adams wants him to return to the south coast. Primus said: "There have been a lot of changes at Portsmouth in recent weeks with Tony replacing Harry Redknapp as manager, and a few other people have left too, so I haven't had the chance to discuss my future yet. I spoke to Tony when he took over to wish him all the best but we didn't speak about my situation. But he knows I am here and I have told him it's going really well. I am sure we will sit down soon and have a chat about it, but right now I'm probably bottom of his list of priorities. There are a lot of factors to weigh up for me and I have to think about what is right for myself, for Charlton and for Portsmouth. I lost a lot of time through injury last year and my main aim is to just play as much football as possible, for as long as I can."

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Newcastle United

Joe Kinnear plans to apologise to Martin Atkinson after branding him a "Mickey Mouse referee". The United caretaker manager made his remarks after the official failed to award a free-kick to his team shortly before Fulham won the decisive penalty in last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage. Kinnear has been asked to explain his comments by the Football Association, and he has now revealed that he regretted the criticism of Atkinson. He said: "I am sorry if my post-match comments at Fulham caused any offence and I will ring Martin Atkinson to tell him. When I spoke to the media on Sunday I was deeply frustrated about losing a game I felt we were in a strong position to win. However, having said this, I have accepted that some of my comments at on Sunday were inappropriate and I will be calling Martin Atkinson to say that."

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Middlesbrough

Boro Pride members have 10 days to snap up their seats at discounted prices for the visit of Arsenal on Saturday 13th December. Seats are available exclusively to Boro Pride members from 9.30am this Friday November 14, online at www.mfc.co.uk, by calling 0844 499 1234 or in person at the MFC ticket offices. Until 9.30am on Monday November 24, adult Boro Pride members can save up to £4 compared to general sale, while members aged under-18 can save £7 and those aged 18 to 21 can get a £14 discount. Boro Pride prices until the deadline on November 24 are: Adults from £25, over-65s from £16, 18-21s from £15 and under-18s £10. After the deadline, Boro Pride prices will be: adults from £28, over-65s from £18, 18-21s from £17 and under-18s £12. Tickets for the Arsenal match will go on general sale from 9.30am on Monday November 24 at the following prices: adults and 18 to 21s from £29, over-65s from £19 and under-18s from £17.

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Manchester United

Darren Fletcher is confident Manchester united can handle Stoke City's physical approach. He said: "Stoke are a strong, hard, physical team, but a fair team also. A manager has to look at his squad and ask himself how he can best win a football match - that's his job, to play to the strengths of his players. Some teams have been upset by Stoke but I think that's only because they've lost to them. Nobody likes to lose so you can see why they might get riled. There's been a lot of talk about the physicality of their side and Rory Delap's long throws, but they're both assets so why not use them? At the end of the day, Stoke are fighting for survival in the top tier of English football and they'll do everything they can to stay up. It might be a different style of football to the one we like to play, but we've got to accept that and deal with it. That sort of variety is what helps make the Premier League such a good league to play in. We know it could be physical on Saturday but we can handle it. The philosophy here has always been to get the ball down and play the right way but it's not our God-given right. Sometimes we have to win a few battles first."

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Manchester City

Mark Hughes insists Manchester City will not be "ripped off" when the transfer window re-opens in two months. The Welsh manager expects chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and executive chairman Garry Cook to be diligent around the negotiating table With Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan giving City considerable financial muscle, the bargaining chips are likely to be raised, but Hughes claims they won't be taken in. He said: "There may be the danger that prices go up because it is Manchester City that are interested, but I think that people will understand we will not get ripped off. The owner and the chairman are very astute businessmen. They know the value of a good deal so they are not going to be taken for a ride. They understand the value of players and what it will take to make deals happen and that needs to be remembered when dealing with them."