Spurs leave out Woodgate, while Ferguson selects Hargreaves
Published:Jonathan Woodgate is perhaps the biggest name not to make their club’s 25-man Premier League squad as he continues his lengthy battle to overcome a groin problem.
Woodgate has only made one senior-team appearance in two years for Tottenham and has failed to play any kind of football since November.
Concern for the 30-year-old’s career also lingers on having unsuccessfully undergone specialist surgery in both Australia and America.
Tottenham are 50/1 to win the Premier League and will also have to do so without goalkeeper Ben Alnwick after he was left out by Redknapp.
New loan signing Stipe Pletikosa joins Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini to battle for a place between the sticks.
There was better news for another injury-plagued England International as Owen Hargreaves was selected in the Manchester United party.
Hargreaves has been limited to one substitute appearance in two years because of tendonitis, but profited from the abundance of young players at Old Trafford that did not have to be named in the 25.
Full-backs Rafael and Fabio, fellow defender Chris Smalling and strikers Federico Macheda and Bebe are among those under 21 that can still be called upon by manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Red Devils are 9/4 to win the Premier League, while their local rivals Manchester City are 7/1.
Doubts were in existence as to whether Roque Santa Cruz would make Roberto Mancini’s 25, but he has.
Mancini has managed to make room in his squad of late through the departures of players including Robinho, Craig Bellamy and Nedum Ohouha, while Mario Balotelli and Dedryck Boyata are under-21 and do not need to be included.
Arsenal do not have any English players in their 20-man squad, despite seven first-teamers falling into the ‘homegrown’ category, such as Cesc Fabregas, Nicklas Bendtner and Alex Song.
Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere are members of their under-21 contingent.
Arsenal are 9/2 to top the Premier League table at the end of the season. See the whole Premier League winners market.
