Arsene Wenger is hoping his side will be able to pick up from where they left off when the Barclays Premier League returns this weekend, after many of his players enjoyed time away with their respective national teams. Having beaten Newcastle United and FC Twente in their last two matches, Wenger has his fingers crossed that the match winning rhythm can continue as they prepare to take on Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. He said: "The earliest come back on Thursday midday, you play on Saturday afternoon and you have to be at your best, because when you play at Arsenal you have to be at your best. So let's hope first that everybody comes back without any injury and, secondly, with a positive experience."

  New signing Carlos Cuellar can barely contain his excitement at the thought of winning a first team spot with Villa. After impressing in two reserve outings, the Spaniard feels he is on the verge of giving Martin O'Neill a selection poser. He said: "It's been fantastic to get two wins in my two reserve games. And I'm obviously delighted that I'm fit and that I did well. I didn't feel any problems. I am getting closer to being available to the manager. Every day in training, I feel better and everything is moving in the right direction." 

 Aaron Mokoena and Benni McCarthy were both left out of the South Africa side to face Guinea. Mokoena was banned for the weekend's African Nations Cup qualifier against Nigeria but called coach Joel Santana and offered to play in the friendly but was told to stay at home, while McCarthy was rested after captaining the side at the weekend. Santana said: "Mokoena contacted me and offered to play in the friendly against Guinea. He was bitterly disappointed by the fact he was suspended and could not play against Nigeria. I was delighted by his offer to play. It shows the spirit from the captain and that he leads by example. But I told him there was no need. He is a strong leader and part of the squad for [the World Cup in] 2010. There was no need to bring him to Pretoria as I know what he can do and what he brings to the team." 

  Gary Megson wants his team to make more of their chances in front of goal when they travel to Fulham this weekend. Despite being encouraged with the signs his Bolton side have shown so far this season, the manager wants his team to adopt a more ruthless mentality. He said: "We've made a mixed start, having won one, drawn one and lost one. I think we've played well enough in all three games to get more points than we've actually got, but we've got to get the club to a standard where we are not talking about what we should have done or could have done. 

  The club are looking for young fans to share their views about the Blues. Youngsters between the ages of seven to 16 have the chance to win two tickets for Chelsea's match against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in exchange for their help in generating fresh ideas and help the club better understand the issues that affect junior supporters. For more details on how to apply for the opportunity to take part in the forum (taking place on the morning of the Arsenal match, Sunday 30th November), see the club's official website. 

  Both Tony Hibbert and Steven Pienaar have been declared just a few weeks away from a return to action for the Toffees. After sustaining a knee injury in the final match of last season, Hibbert underwent surgery in the summer, while Pienaar has been sidelined with a broken toe sustained in pre-season. Head physio Mick Rathbone revealed: "Tony saw the specialist in Manchester on Monday and he gave him the green light to start twisting and turning and doing some kicking. He is making very good progress and he is a matter of weeks away. Steven Pienaar had another x-ray on Monday which shows he is healing excellently and, similar to Tony, he is only weeks away." 

  Craven Cottage is set to stage England and The Republic of Ireland international footballing legends for the Johnny Haynes Cup on Thursday, 9th October at 7.45pm. The England Legends squad will be managed by former Everton, Manchester City and England midfielder Peter Reid. 

 Members of the Matchday Ticket Membership scheme can now download ticket application forms for the home matches against Chelsea and Arsenal. 

  Reds legend Ian St John has tipped striker Robbie Keane to be the club's key player as they prepare to take on Barclays Premier League champions Manchester United. Even though Keane is yet to find the back of the net since his £18m move from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, St John is hoping he can help Liverpool to victory on Saturday. "This game is really set up for Keane - it's all there for him to get his first goal for Liverpool against Manchester United and help us win the game," he said. "We're all expecting a lot from him, and it's always difficult coming to a new club and trying to settle in with the players. But I think if you are a new player, this is the kind of game you will be really desperate to get a goal in. 

  Mark Hughes believes Shaun Wright-Phillips will get a fine reception when he plays his first match back at Eastlands since re-signing from Chelsea. City ironically face the Blues this Saturday, and Hughes said: "He is going to get a fantastic reception, his homecoming in the media has possibly been overshadowed a little bit by the Robinho transfer, but come Saturday I think you will see Shaun get an outstanding reception." 

 The reserves earned a 3-3 draw with Birmingham City after trailing 3-1 going into the final 20 minutes. Rodrigo Possebon, David Gray and Evandro Brandao were on target for the Red Devils. 

  Groundstaff at Middlesbrough's training ground are continuing a clean-up operation after a large part of it was left under four feet of flood water at the weekend. The heavy rain that caused severe flooding in other parts of the north-east also led to the River Tees bursting its banks close to Boro's Rockliffe Park headquarters. An area the size of four football pitches was affected and staff were called into emergency action after security guards noticed equipment floating away. There was little damage to property, however, and a new drainage system installed at the end of last season meant the first-team pitches were not affected. The water has now receded, leaving Rockliffe Park's head groundsman Neil Rogers and his assistants to clear up debris left by the flooding. Rogers said: "We tried to get in to salvage what equipment we could and brought back a couple of goalposts and irrigation pipes, but it was like standing in a river." 

 Charles N'Zogbia's France under-21 side made sure of their place in the play-offs for next summer's European Championships with a 1-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo. Habib Bellaid scored the only goal.

  Manager Harry Redknapp has been pleased with the look of recent signing Nadir Belhadj in training. "He's settled in right away," said Redknapp. "He's terrific - really quick and lively. He's got a chance of featuring at the weekend." 

 Stoke City manager Tony Pulis insists Ryan Shawcross has a future at the club. "Ryan is a big part of what we are trying to do here and I have great respect for Ryan as a person and for what he has achieved with us so far," he said. "There's no way he's leaving this football club in this (loan) window. At the end of the window we will obviously take stock of everything at the club, but I'm hoping Ryan will have shown the right spirit, character and work ethic to get back in the team." 

   Anton Ferdinand hppes to make his Sunderland bow this weekend after coming through a midweek reserve match without any reaction to his hamstring injury. The defender said: "I feel fine, the hamstring feels fine, the lungs feel fine and I feel good enough to be involved on Saturday. I'd got a kick on my Achilles tendon in a pre-season game and that was what led to a little tear in my hamstring. But it feels good now and although I need games to get my full sharpness, I feel I fit enough to be involved this weekend." 

  Fraizer Campbell says he cannot wait to make his Barclays Premier League debut with Tottenham Hotspur. "The coaching staff have such good reputations, so hopefully I'll learn from them and play in as many games as I can, score as many goals as I can and try to get more experience in the Premier League," said Campbell, who is on a season's loan from Manchester United. "You learn a lot about yourself on loan and I can't wait to pull on a shirt and get out there. I'm excited by it all." 

  Coach Peter Grant is delighted midfielder Filipe Teixeira is back training again after overcoming his knee injury. "He will be assessed, have all of his fitness tests and hopefully he can start football work with us on Thursday," said Grant. "It will be good to have him involved. He is progressing and we are delighted because it will be like another new signing." 

  Lucas Neill and Matthew Upson had a successful time at international level this week. Neill's Australia beat Uzebekistan 1-0 in Tashkent to get the final stage of the Asian zone campaign off to a winning start, while fellow defender Upson made his ninth appearance for England in the 4-1 win in Croatia.  

  England football legend John Barnes visited Latics and other Barclays Premier League clubs to collect signed shirts from Britain's top flight as part of a five day UK wide Van-Dash in aid of charitable campaign Score Ethiopia - a partnership between Wash & Go shampoo and educational charity Link Ethiopia.