By AVI CREDITOR
Wayne Rooney's injury situation has fluctuated like a stock market gone crazy, but after he was recently ruled out for the remainder of the Premier League campaign comes word that Rooney (and teammate Rio Ferdinand) may be fit for this weekend's clash at Sunderland.
Rooney, who outlasted Didier Drogba and Carlos Tevez to win the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award, could yet make a final impact on the Premier League title chase.
Manchester United trails Chelsea by one point with two matches to play. Should Chelsea win its final two games, Rooney's return would be moot, but a slip-up by the Blues at Anfield this weekend would give Rooney the chance to guide his team back to the top of the table with a win at the Stadium of Light.
The Red Devils host Stoke City, and Chelsea hosts Wigan Athletic in the league's final week of play.
Here are a few more Premier League stories to help get you to the weekend:
HODGSON LAUDED BY PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGERS
After another stunning chapter was added to Fulham's Europa League run, several Premier League managers have voiced their unofficial nomination of Roy Hodgson for the league's Manager of the Year award.
The likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Harry Redknapp, Mick McCarthy and Roberto Martinez heaped praise on Hodgson for keeping his team mid-table while going through the Europa League gauntlet, according to the BBC.
The award, voted on by the League Managers Association, will be presented to the winner on May 10.
O'NEILL FURIOUS AT CITY GOALKEEPER LOAN
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has voiced his displeasure about the Premier League's decision to allow Manchester City to sign goalkeeper Marton Fulop on emergency loan ahead of their key match this weekend.
City, whose No. 1 keeper Shay Given was seriously injured against Arsenal last weekend, only had the injured Stuart Taylor and inexperienced Gunnar Nielsen in reserve. The team owns the rights to Birmingham's Joe Hart, but the terms of his loan deal prevented him from being called back to his parent club.
Fulop, who was with Sunderland, has had 20 caps with the Hungarian national team, while Nielsen is a Faroe Islands international with less overall experience.
Villa, City and Tottenham are in a three-horse race for the league's final Champions League spot, and City will play both teams at Eastlands in a four-day period starting with the clash with Villa on Saturday.
NEVILLE SIGNS ON FOR ANOTHER YEAR
Manchester United captain Gary Neville has answered all questions about potentially retiring by signing a one-year extension with the Red Devils.
Neville, 35, is fifth on the club's all-time appearance list, and will remain at Old Trafford at least through next summer.
SPURS' MODRIC STAYING PUT
Harry Redknapp has squashed all talk of Croatian midfielder Luka Modric being transferred this summer, according to The Independent.
The 24-year-old Modric, who has been linked to a potential move to Manchester United, has been an integral part of Tottenham's midfield as the team chases a Champions League berth.
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Happy that Rooney may potentially return? Do you think he's rushing back too quickly? Who gets your vote for Premier League Manager of the Year? Think Manchester City should have been allowed to sign another goalkeeper?
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