Premiership Team News

Saturday Birmingham (17) v Sunderland (20) Birmingham defender Darren Purse could return after recovering from an injured ankle…

Saturday
Birmingham (17) v Sunderland (20)
Birmingham defender Darren Purse could return after recovering from an injured ankle which later became infected.

He may replace Kenny Cunningham, who is struggling with a groin problem. Robbie Savage completes a two-game suspension, while striker Geoff Horsfield is set to partner Christophe Dugarry in attack.

Sunderland defender Phil Babb is out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a groin injury and Mark Rossiter will be sidelined for six months with a ruptured cruciate ligament.

Last season:No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Birmingham W W L W L; Sunderland L L L L L. Top scorers: Stern John (Birmingham) 8; Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 9. Match odds: H 4-7 A 4-1 D 5-2 Referee: P Dowd (Staffs).

READ MORE

Blackburn (7) v Charlton (9)

Rovers boss Graeme Souness will stick with Andy Cole and Hakan Sukur as his strikers following an excellent performance from the pair in Monday night's 4-0 win over Fulham. Keith Gillespie has shaken off an ankle knock to keep his place in the squad.

Charlton centre-backs Mark Fish and Richard Rufus (both knee) face fitness tests, along with midfielder Radostin Kishishev, who is carrying a slight groin problem.

Last season:Blackburn 4 Charlton 1, Charlton 0 Blackburn 2. Last five league matches: Blackburn W W W L W; Charlton W L L D L. Top scorers: Dwight Yorke (Blackburn) 12; Jason Euell (Charlton) 11. Match odds: H 8-13 A 7-2 D 5-2. Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).

Chelsea (4) v Bolton (16)

Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen (cold), midfielder Emmanuel Petit (calf) and defender Celestine Babayaro (heavy cold) are all fit. However, midfielders Jesper Gronkjaer (groin), Mario Stanic (Achilles) and Jody Morris (thigh) are out.

Bolton hope Salva Ballesta, who missed the win over Manchester City, will return from a knee injury after making good progress this week. Simon Charlton (knee), who also missed the City game, is back to full fitness.

Last season:Bolton 2 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 5 Bolton 1. Last five league matches: Chelsea L L W W W; Bolton D L W W W. Top scorers: Gianfranco Zola (Chelsea) 15; Henrik Pedersen (Bolton) 7. Match odds: H 4-9 A 11-2 D 13-5. Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire). Leeds (14) v Tottenham (8)

Leeds boss Peter Reid is certain to name an unchanged line-up, so there will be no place in the squad for Paul Okon, Raul Bravo and Teddy Lucic, three of former manager Terry Venables' four signings during his time at the club.

Anthony Gardner is back in the Tottenham squad after a hamstring injury.

Last season: Tottenham 2 Leeds 1, Leeds 2 Tottenham 1. Last five league matches: Leeds L L L L W; Tottenham D L L L W. Top scorers: Mark Viduka (Leeds) 15; Teddy Sheringham (Tottenham) 11. Match odds: H 10-11 A 23-10 D 23-10. Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).

Liverpool (6) v Fulham (13)

Michael Owen returns to the Liverpool side after a back injury, but fellow striker El Hadji Diouf is a doubt with a shin infection, giving Vladimir Smicer or Bruno Cheyrou the chance of a run-out.

Fulham centre-back Alain Goma is out with a calf injury and midfielder Bjarne Goldbaek is sidelined with an abdominal strain. Republic of Ireland international Steve Finnan, who made his comeback in the 4-0 thrashing by Blackburn, suffered no ill-effects and is fit, while Sean Davis returns from a three-match suspension.

Last season: Fulham 0 Liverpool 2, Liverpool 0 Fulham 0. Last five league matches: Liverpool L W W W L; Fulham D W D L L. Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 22; Steed Malbranque (Fulham) 13. Match odds: H 4-11 A 7-1 D 11-4. Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

Man City (12) v Middlesbrough (10)

Eyal Berkovic has shrugged off long-term injury fears and is set to be given a role in the City side. Defensive duo Niclas Jensen and Sun Jihai are back from suspension and Mikkel Bischoff could come into contention for his first start.

Middlesbrough will be without full back Stuart Parnaby (hamstring), midfielder George Boateng (ankle) and striker Michael Ricketts (Achilles) .

Last season:No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Man City L L W L L; Middlesbrough D W W D W. Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 12; Geremi, Massimo Maccarone (Middlesbrough) 7. Match odds: H 13-10 A 13-8 D 11-5. Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).

Newcastle (3) v Man Utd (2)

Portuguese midfielder Hugo Viana returns to the Newcastle squad after fears he had dislocated his shoulder on international duty against England Under-21s proved unfounded. Nolberto Solano (groin) and Carl Cort are back in contention, but Gary Speed (hernia) Darren Ambrose (knee) and Nikos Dabizas, despite playing for the reserves last night in his comeback from a thigh strain, remain sidelined.

Alex Ferguson will check on the fitness of David Beckham, who tweaked a hamstring in Tuesday's 3-1 defeat against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, while Juan Sebastian Veron may be sidelined with the knee ligament injury he suffered at the beginning of last month. Phil Neville returns to the squad after being suspended from the midweek mauling in Madrid.

Last season:Man Utd 3 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 4 Man Utd 3. Last five league matches: Newcastle W L W W L; Man Utd D W W W W. Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 24; Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 35. Match odds: H 13-8 A 11-8 D 21-10. Referee: S Dunn (Avon).

West Brom (19) v Everton (5)

Phil Gilchrist has played his last game of the season for West Brom after suffering a recurrence of a knee problem, with Neil Clement favourite to replace him in the back three. The now-fit Ifeanyi Udeze will fill in at left wing-back, while Andy Johnson, who has recovered from a broken toe, is in contention for a midfield role.

Everton's top scorer Tomasz Radzinski is back in training, but his groin injury may not be fully recovered enough for a place in the Everton squad. Tony Hibbert is also back in training after his hernia operation, while long-term injured duo Alessandro Pistone and Tobias Linderoth are expected to return to training on Monday.

Last season:No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: West Brom L L L L L; Everton W D D L W. Top scorers: Daniele Dichio (West Brom) 7; Tomasz Radzinski (Everton) 11. Match odds: H 11-4 A 4-5 D 23-10. Referee: S Bennett (Kent).

West Ham (18) v Aston Villa (15)

Midfielder Michael Carrick is set to return to West Ham's starting line-up after recovering from a stomach strain, while captain Steve Lomas is rated 50-50 with a groin problem.

Villa have been hit by a flu bug which has laid low their experienced defensive trio of Olof Mellberg, Ronny Johnsen and Alpay. Skipper Mellberg has the best chance of being sufficiently fit but manager Graham Taylor is pessimistic about Johnsen and Alpay, so Rob Edwards or Gareth Barry are likely to deputise.

Striker Marcus Allback is pushing for a rare start after impressing as a substitute in the home draw with Arsenal - he could replace Mustapha Hadji, who would switch to a midfield role - as 14 goal top-scorer Dion Dublin is still suspended.

Last season:Aston Villa 2 West Ham 1, West Ham 1 Aston Villa 1. Last five league matches: West Ham W W D W D; Aston Villa L L L D D. Top scorers: Jermain Defoe (West Ham) 11; Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 14. Match odds: H 5-6 A 13-5 D 23-10. Referee: M Dean (Wirral).