Saturday

Bolton (2nd) v Sunderland (10th)

Danish midfielder Per Frandsen returns to the squad after recovering from an ankle injury. Scotland central defender Colin Hendry is still suspended but former Gillingham midfielder Nicky Southall could return after a hamstring injury.

Sunderland welcome back goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, who has recovered from a broken nose, but are without full-back Bernt Haas (hamstring). Stanislav Varga stands by to make his first Premiership appearance of the season with Darren Williams switching to fill the vacancy at right-back. George McCartney is also added to the squad.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Bolton W D L D D, Sunderland D W D L D

Top scorers: Ricketts (Bolton) 5; Phillips (Sunderland) 4.

Match odds: H 6-5 A 9-5 D 11-5

Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).

Charlton (16th) v Leicester (19th)

Charlton midfielder Mark Kinsella will start after proving his fitness after a double hernia, while fellow midfielder Claus Jensen could figure after playing the first half of a midweek reserve match. John Salako and Clive Mendonca are still sidelined by knee problems.

Under-pressure Leicester boss Peter Taylor has injury doubts over Gary Rowett (knee), Matt Elliott (ankle) and Dean Sturridge (hamstring), but is hopeful at least two of the trio will be available.

Last season: Charlton 2 Leicester 0, Leicester 3 Charlton 1

Last five league matches: Charlton L W D L D, Leicester D W L D L

Top scorers: Bartlett, Brown, Fortune, Johansson, Konchesky and Lisbie (Charlton) all 1; Sturridge (Leicester) 3.

Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5

Referee: M Dean (The Wirral).

Derby (18th) v Arsenal (3rd)

Captain Craig Burley is out with a virus. Darryl Powell will regain the armband as his side attempt to prevent a third consecutive defeat.

Arsenal goalkeeper Richard Wright makes his debut with David Seaman being rested due to a sore shoulder.

Last season: Derby 1 Arsenal 2, Arsenal 0 Derby 0

Last five league matches: Derby L D D L L, Arsenal L W D W D

Top scorers: Burton, Ravanelli (Derby) both 3; Henry (Arsenal) 6.

Match odds: H 3-1 A 4-5 D 21-10.

Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville).

Everton (12th) v West Ham (15th)

Tomasz Radzinski is in line for his full Everton debut after recovering from a hamstring problem and a groin injury, but Duncan Ferguson (hamstring), Scot Gemmill and Mark Pembridge are unlikely to be fit. Dave Unsworth and Alessandro Pistone are in the reckoning again.

Tomas Repka is suspended, with Rigobert Song in line to replace the recent £5 million signing from Fiorentina. Joe Cole, troubled by deep bruising of a bone in his foot all season, has an outside chance of being included.

Last season: West Ham 0 Everton 2, Everton 1 West Ham 1.

Last five league matches: Everton D W L L L, West Ham L D D L W

Top Scorers: Campbell, Ferguson (Everton) both 3; Di Canio (West Ham) 2

Match odds: H 10-11 A 12-5 D 9-4

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).

Middlesbrough (13th) v Southampton (20th):

Manager Steve McClaren will make one change at least with Australian international goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer set to return after a one-match suspension.

Striker Marian Pahars missed training yesterday with a stomach upset but is expected to take his place in Southampton's attack. Tahar El Khalej continues in the centre of defence.

Last season: Middlesbrough 0 Southampton 1, Southampton 1 Middlesbrough 3

Last five league matches: Middlesbrough L L W W D, Southampton L L L W L

Top scorers: Boksic, Cooper, Deane, Greening, Ince, Johnston, Murphy, Nemeth, Stockdale, Wilson (Middlesbrough) all 1; Pahars, Svensson (Southampton) both 2.

Match odds: H 8-11 A 16-5 D 9-4

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood).

Tottenham (11th) v Manchester United (4):

Dean Richards will make his debut in the centre of defence. Glenn Hoddle is still without a number of key players. With central defenders Gary Doherty, Goran Bunjevcic and Anthony Gardner still injured, Richards will slot in alongside Ledley King and possibly Chris Perry if Hoddle decides to revert to three at the back.

Ronny Johnsen is expected to continue alongside Laurent Blanc in central defence for United in the absence of Wes Brown who has a hamstring strain, while Nicky Butt is the likely replacement for captain Roy Keane, who starts a three-match ban. Alex Ferguson will also check on the fitness of David Beckham (groin).

Last season: Tottenham 3 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 2 Tottenham 0

Last five league matches: Tottenham L W L W L, Man Utd D D W L W

Top scorers: Sheringham, Ziege (Tottenham) both 3; Beckham, van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 4

Match odds: H 11-5 A Evs D 11-5

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees). Sunday

Aston Villa (6th) v Blackburn (9th)

Swedish defender Olof Mellberg is out after being carried off with a knee injury in Thursday's UEFA Cup tie against Varteks.

David Dunn is poised to make his first appearance since damaging his medial knee ligaments on the opening day of the season.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Aston Villa D D W D W, Blackburn W L D D W

Top scorers: Angel (Villa) 5; Jansen (Blackburn) 2

Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 11-5

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset)

Fulham (14th) v Chelsea (7th)

Left-back Jon Harley faces a race against time to prove his fitness. He returned to training this week after suffering a groin strain in the league cup. Sylvain Legwinski suffered a knee injury in the 0-0 draw at Leicester and is likely to be out of action for another 10 days.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is set to return after missing Thursday's UEFA Cup trip to Bulgaria through suspension. The Dutchman is likely to replace Gianfranco Zola or Eidur Gudjohnsen. Frank Lampard starts a ban following his red card at Tottenham a fortnight ago.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Fulham W D D L D, Chelsea D W D W D

Top scorers: Saha (Fulham) 3; Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 6

Match odds: H 13-8 A 6-4 D 19-10

Referee: G Poll (Tring).

Ipswich (17th) v Leeds (1st)

Ipswich are sweating on the fitness of Titus Bramble and Martijn Reuser. Bramble (Achilles tendon) and Reuser (thigh) were ruled out of Thursday's UEFA Cup victory over Torpedo Moscow.

Lee Bowyer will return to the starting line-up after finally completing a European suspension. Eirik Bakke is likely to make way.

Last season: Ipswich 1 Leeds 2, Leeds 1 Ipswich 2 Last five league matches: Ipswich W L D D L, Leeds W D D W W

Top scorers: George (Ipswich) 2; Kewell (Leeds) 2

Match odds: H 11-5 A 11-10 D 2-1

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).

Newcastle (5th) v Liverpool (8th)

Newcastle midfielder Gary Speed will undergo a late fitness test, having not played since tearing a hamstring against Sunderland on August 26th.

Steven Gerrard serves the second match of his three-game domestic ban. Midfielders in line for the call include Gary McAllister, Danny Murphy, Jamie Redknapp or Igor Biscan.

Last season: Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 2 Liverpool 1

Last five league matches: Newcastle D W W L W, Liverpool W L L W W

Top scorers: Bellamy, Solano (Newcastle) both 5; Owen (Liverpool) 9

Match odds: H 7-4 A 13-10 D 21-10

Referee: G Barber (Tring). Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill.