Kevin Davies, who has missed six games with a cracked bone in his foot, could be back for the Old Trafford game.
Manager Sam Allardyce is so desperate to get his spearhead striker back in action that he is hoping to arrange private practice games to get him as near to match fitness as possible.
"He is a big miss for the team," Anelka said of his fellow striker.
"Everybody hopes he will be fit for the next game."
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