Almunia ready to face Boro

Goalkeeper to miss Liverpool, but expects to be fit for weekend

Last updated: 20th April 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Almunia ready to face Boro

Almunia: Close to return

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Manuel Almunia has handed Arsenal a boost by announcing he will be ready to face Middlesbrough at the weekend.

The goalkeeper has been sidelined since an ankle injury saw him substituted in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg draw with Villarreal on 7th April.

Almunia concedes he will not be fit to return to Arsene Wenger's first XI against title-chasing Liverpool on Tuesday.

But the Spaniard expects to be 100 per cent fit for the Emirates Stadium visit of Boro on Sunday, a match which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1.

"The Liverpool game on Tuesday is a bit too early," Almunia said in the Daily Star. "But I'll be totally ready for Boro on Sunday."

The news will be welcomed by the Gunners as their first-choice shot-stopper will also be available for the Champions League semi-final against Manchester United, with the first leg on 29th April.

Lukasz Fabianski has been standing in for Almunia but the Pole did not cover himself in glory in last weekend's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea.