Wenger waits on ailing Gunners

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will take a head count before selecting his side for the New Year’s Day trip to Charlton.

The Gunners snatched a third successive victory at Newcastle to close the gap on Barclays Premiership leaders Chelsea to five points.

However, defender Lauren ended the game with a sore knee and with Dennis Bergkamp facing a late fitness test (thigh) and Jose Antonio Reyes out, Wenger may have to reshuffle.

Wenger singled out skipper Patrick Vieira for praise after the Newcastle victory.

“Patrick was great,” said Wenger. “For a guy who was sick before the game, he recovered very quickly.

“He scored a very important goal, but overall he was very good, very influential, especially in the first half when we were playing well.”

Shaun Bartlett admits life can get “lonely” up front on his own, but is more than happy to be spearheading the Charlton attack.

The Addicks will retain a five-man midfield, with the South African again leading the line.

Bartlett said: “If you are used to playing with someone up front and suddenly find yourself alone, you feel isolated and lonely. It can be difficult, but it is a challenge and something I’ve had to adapt to.”

The 32-year-old is hoping to agree a deal to stay at The Valley beyond the end of the current campaign.

Tottenham boss Martin Jol is looking for Noureddine Naybet to make his experience count when he returns from injury for the start of a stretch of three crunch league games.

Spurs host fourth-placed Everton tomorrow, followed by games against Manchester United and Chelsea.

Jol fielded a young side against Palace, but 34-year-old Naybet is poised to return to central defence after groin and ankle problems.

Jol said: “He is a very experienced guy and has done well. He is 34 now. He was a world-class player in Spain and he is still important for us.”

Everton boss David Moyes will not let defeat at Charlton take the gloss off his side’s remarkable year.

The Toffees started 2004 in danger of being sucked into the relegation fight - but go into 2005 in fourth place.

Moyes said: “I have not had many bad periods in my managerial career, but the first half of this year was not very good, certainly the last five games of last season.

“Then there was the downside of what went on off the field during the summer. I have certainly seen a fair bit of football life this year.”

Duncan Ferguson is suspended, while goalkeeper Nigel Martyn (calf strain), Steve Watson (stomach upset) and Leon Osman (knee) face fitness tests.

Luis Boa Morte and Lee Clark have provided Fulham boss Chris Coleman with some long-awaited festive cheer ahead of the clash with Crystal Palace.

Portuguese forward Boa Morte looks set to start after a month out with foot and hamstring injuries, although the game may come too soon for Clark, who has yet to start a first-team match this season because of a calf problem.

Coleman said: “Boa is very important to us, especially when we play one up front with two wide. He has an incredible engine – he goes forward and can get back.”

Palace boss Iain Dowie knows his side must start picking up maximum points.

“It is a massive game,” he declared. “We can’t worry about what Fulham are doing, we have to worry about ourselves.”

Aiyegbeni Yakubu believes Portsmouth should abandon the use of a lone frontman.

Manager Velimir Zajec had his hand forced into switching Portsmouth’s formation, with Yakubu and Diomansy Kamara were unfit.

The first game back for the pair was a 2-0 home defeat by Chelsea, but Yakubu expects their partnership to be more productive against Norwich at Fratton Park.

He said: “It was disappointing not to score in the last three games, especially when I had the ball in the net against Chelsea.

“That has gone now and I’ve got to concentrate on Norwich. At least the the team have two fit strikers again. Dio Kamara has also come through well from his knee injury and it is a big boost for the team.”

Patrik Berger may also return if midfielder Gary O’Neil has more back trouble.

Mark Edworthy is confident Norwich will soon start getting the rub of the green despite going into 2005 third from bottom after three successive defeats.

Full-back Edworthy said: “We knew what to expect when we came into the league, that it was going to be difficult and it is going to go right to the wire. However, the team spirit is fantastic and the way we played against Tottenham, and at times at Middlesborough – we have got something to be proud of.”

Mattias Jonson and Simon Charlton may return from injury but Thomas Helveg (concussion) is a doubt and midfielder Damien Francis (fractured cheekbone) is “highly unlikely”.