Morning Ticker: Injuries plague Chelsea, Man. City; Hargreaves nears return and more

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By AVI CREDITOR

When Chelsea and Manchester City face each other on Saturday, both teams figure to be a bit shorthanded.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has been ruled out for the match along with the in-form Salomon Kalou and Yossi Benayoun. Lampard suffered a setback in training while recovering from a hernia operation and is expected to miss the Blues' next three matches. Kalou and Benayoun picked up injuries in Carling Cup play this week.

Manchester City, meanwhile, is facing a defensive crisis. If Micah Richards (hamstring) can't go, Roberto Mancini's side will be down to three fit starting defenders, as Jerome Boateng, Joleon Lescott, Wayne Bridge and Aleksandar Kolarov all are hurt.

Here are a few more stories to get your Friday started:

HARGREAVES RETURNS TO TRAINING

Owen Hargreaves hasn't played for Manchester United in about two years, but his long-awaited return appears to be on the horizon.

Hargreaves, 29, has resumed training with the first team as he attempts to come back from chronic knee tendinitis that has sidetracked his career.

It will be weeks before Hargreaves achieves game fitness, but Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly impressed with how he looks in training, saying, "If he continues that way, he's going to give me another selection problem."

SPURS AGREE TO TERMS FOR KHUMALO

Tottenham and South African club Supersport have agreed to terms on a 1.5 million fee that will allow South African international defender Bongani Khumalo to join Spurs when the winter transfer window opens.

Khumalo, who scored in the Bafana Bafana's win over France in the World Cup, should help provide depth at centerback at White Hart Lane.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS

Olimpia held off Tolu! ca, 2-1, to pull into a tie for first place in Group D. The Honduran side passed the Puerto Rico Islanders with the victory in San Pedro Sula and is level with Toluca with seven points and two games remaining.

In Group B, Municipal's Sergio Guevara scored in injury time to give his side a 3-2 victory and deliver the knockout punch to Joe Public, which has one point through four matches. Municipal trails first-place Columbus by four points and second-place Santos by two with two matches left in group play.

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Who do you think will win the Chelsea-Manchester City match? What do you think about Hargreaves' comeback? Like the signing of Khumalo for Tottenham? Who do you see winning Group D in the CCL?

Share your thoughts below.



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