Alonso desperate to return

Last updated : 19 December 2007 By Al Campbell
The midfielder has only played seventy minutes since originally breaking a metatarsal against Portsmouth back in September. However, he is set to return for tonight's Carling Cup quarter final against Chelsea.

"I would love to be given some minutes on the pitch tonight because I feel I am now ready," said Alonso.

"I have been training for two and a half weeks - both with the first team and the reserves when the first team have been away - and everything has gone fine. But the true test comes in games.

"I have been tackling as normal in training and I am totally pain-free, so I don't expect there to be any problems if I am involved."