Manchester United
Javier Hernandez will be back in training today, according to the Manchester United striker's agent. The Mexican was injured in a late challenge by Ashley Cole in Sunday's 3-1 defeat of Chelsea. The United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's immediate reaction was to rule Hernandez out for two weeks. However, after sending the Mexican for scans yesterday, his agent said Hernandez has suffered nothing worse than a "bump". "It looked like [his absence] was longer, they were looking for a fracture, that's why they ran those tests on him," said Eduardo Hernandez.
Wigan Athletic
Roberto Martinez, the Wigan manager, has revealed the knee injury suffered by Hugo Rodallega is not as serious as first feared. The striker was hurt in the closing moments of Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Everton, being carried off after a challenge from Denis Stracqualursi. There had been fears that Rodallega had suffered serious knee ligament damage and would be out for up to three months. But while Martinez cannot give a date for the Colombian's return, he says it will not take as long as the club had initially thought. He told Wigan's website: "The scans came back really positively, it doesn't seem there are any big concerns in terms of the structure of the knee. It's fantastic news and now we are going to make sure that Hugo recovers well and gets back on the football pitch as quickly as possible."
Newcastle United
Alan Pardew, the Newcastle manager, has been "warned as to his future conduct" by the English Football Association following his comments before the north-east derby with Sunderland last month. Pardew was charged with improper conduct by the governing body for comments thought to relate to Howard Webb, the referee who took charge of the August 20 clash. It is believed the comments in question related to then Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton, who has since moved to QPR. Before the Sunderland game - which Newcastle won 1-0 -Pardew was quoted in several newspapers as saying: "The referee needs to make sure he referees the game from a completely neutral point of view because Joey has been in the press a bit this week."
Manchester City
Micah Richards insists Manchester City will be going out to win the Carling Cup after acknowledging they took the competition "a bit lightly" last season. City went out to West Bromwich Albion at the same stage last season. This time they face Birmingham City, the holders, in the third round. Owen Hargreaves and Kolo Toure are likely to be among those who will start in what should be an experienced side. Richards told the club's website: "I think this year we want to do something and there are a lot of quality players who weren't involved at the weekend who will be looking to get a start. We believe in our squad and are confident we can go through."
Liverpool
Daniel Agger could be out for up to four weeks after fracturing a rib in Sunday's 4-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. The Denmark international sustained the injury when he fell heavily in the first half. However, there are contrasting reports over the extent of the injury. "Daniel has got a fractured rib, so he's struggling a bit," Kenny Dalglish, the manager, told liverpoolfc.tv. However, Agger's agent Per Steffensen told Denmark's sporten tv2. "It's the worst possible news. He has broken two ribs, and he must keep still for four weeks."