All the team news ahead of the weekend's Premier League action.
Saturday, March 31st
Aston Villa (15) v Chelsea (5)
Captain Stiliyan Petrov will miss Aston Villa’s home game with Chelsea after the shock news that he has been diagnosed with acute leukaemia. Alan Hutton (calf) is also out, with Eric Lichaj and Chris Herd in contention to replace the Scotland international, while Charles N’Zogbia (knee) will be out for a further month. Striker Darren Bent (ankle), defender Richard Dunne (shoulder) and midfielder Fabian Delph (ankle) remain long-term absentees, while utility player Ciaran Clark is still recovering from a knee problem.
Midfielder Raul Meireles is Chelsea’s only doubt after sustaining a knee injury in Tuesday night’s 1-0 victory over Benfica. Branislav Ivanovic and Ramires have been passed fit after overcoming minor knocks.
Last season: Chelsea 3 Aston Villa 3, Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 0
Last five league matches: Aston Villa L D D W L; Chelsea W L W L D
Top scorers (all competitions): Darren Bent (Aston Villa) 10; Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 13
Match odds: H 3-1 A 10-11 D 12-5
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Everton (9) v West Brom (14)
Everton are likely to be without midfielders Jack Rodwell (hamstring), Seamus Coleman (thigh) and Royston Drenthe (leave). On-loan midfielder Steven Pienaar returns after being ineligible for the midweek FA Cup replay victory at Sunderland.
West Brom will be without injured midfielder James Morrison, who is likely to be missing for the remainder of the season after suffering knee ligament damage during last weekend’s home reversal against Newcastle. Paul Scharner and Graham Dorrans will be in contention to replace the Scotland international. Midfielder Zoltan Gera (knee) and right-back Steven Reid (foot) remain long-term absentees.
Last season: West Brom 1 Everton 0, Everton 1 West Brom 4
Last five league matches: Everton D W L L W; West Brom W W L D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Nikica Jelavic (Everton) 20; Keith Andrews (West Brom) 11
Match odds: H 4-5 A 7-2 D 5-2
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
Fulham (13) v Norwich (11)
Fulham manager Martin Jol has recalled midfielder Alex Kacaniklic from his loan spell at Watford and he goes straight into the squad to face Norwich. The Cottagers have no fresh injury concerns with Neil Etheridge (wrist), Zdenek Grygera (knee), Steve Sidwell (hernia) and Orlando Sa (hamstring) all still on the sidelines.
Norwich captain Grant Holt will serve a one-match suspension having been sent off after scoring a brace in the Canaries’ home win over Wolves last weekend. Winger Anthony Pilkington (hamstring) is doubtful, while defenders Marc Tierney (groin) and Daniel Ayala (knee) continue their rehabilitation towards full match fitness, along with striker James Vaughan (knee).
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Fulham W W L L L; Norwich L L D L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 18; Grant Holt (Norwich) 14
Match odds: H 8-11 A 7-2 D 11-4
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
Man City (2) v Sunderland (8)
Manchester City will again be without top scorer Sergio Aguero due to a foot injury, although manager Roberto Mancini would shed no light on the nature of the problem. Captain Vincent Kompany (calf) is expected to return after four games out but fellow defender Joleon Lescott (groin) remains sidelined.
Striker Carlos Tevez is again set to start on the bench.
Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill will be without left-back Wayne Bridge, who is ineligible under the terms of his loan agreement. Midfielder Jack Colback, who missed the 2-0 FA Cup defeat by Everton in midweek to attend the birth of his first child, has played in defence this season and could deputise, but central defender John O’Shea (calf) is out and midfielder Lee Cattermole is a doubt with a twisted knee.
Last season: Man City 5 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 1 Man City 0
Last five league matches: Man City W W L W D; Sunderland L D W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Sergio Aguero (Man City) 24; Stephane Sessegnon (Sunderland) 8
Match odds: H 2-9 A 12-1 D 5-1
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
QPR (18) v Arsenal (3)
QPR striker Djibril Cisse will begin his four-match ban when Arsenal visit Loftus Road. The France international was sent off at former club Sunderland
last weekend and is joined on the sidelines by Armand Traore, who is a week away from returning from a hamstring injury. Long-term absentees DJ Campbell (hamstring) and Heidar Helguson (knee) are not yet ready for a first-team return.
Arsenal will have centre-half Laurent Koscielny available following a knee problem. Midfielder Abou Diaby (hamstring) is not expected to be back in contention, but like Francis Coquelin (hamstring) is close to match fitness. Centre-back Per Mertesacker (ankle) and midfielder Jack Wilshere (ankle) remain sidelined.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: QPR L D L W L; Arsenal W W W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Heidar Helguson & Bobby Zamora (QPR) 9; Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 33
Match odds: H 9-2 A 8-13 D 11-4
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Wigan (19) v Stoke (12)
Wigan hope forward Victor Moses will be fit after scans revealed he did not break his jaw last week. Midfielder Mohamed Diame (groin) and striker Hugo Rodallega (knee) only have outside chances of playing, however. Midfielder David Jones (knee) is now back in contention while third-choice goalkeeper Mike Pollitt (shoulder) is also training again.
Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller could return having completed a three-match suspension. Jonathan Woodgate may feature in the Potters’ matchday squad for the first time in more than a month after recovering from a calf problem and fellow defender Robert Huth should be fit despite suffering a leg knock, but midfielder Salif Diao (hamstring) remains sidelined.
Last season: Stoke 0 Wigan 1, Wigan 2 Stoke 2
Last five league matches: Wigan D L D D W; Stoke W W L D D
Top scorers (all competitions): Franco Di Santo, Jordi Gomez & Ben Watson (Wigan) 4; Peter Crouch (Stoke) 12
Match odds: H 13-8 A 7-4 D 21-10
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
Wolves (20) v Bolton (17)
Wolves boss Terry Connor will check on the fitness of key midfielder Karl Henry before finalising his side. Henry has returned to training after four weeks out of action with a hamstring setback. Fellow midfielder David Davis is making good progress from a rib injury and defender Ronald Zubar will be back in contention after being suspended for the defeat at Norwich last weekend.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle is likely to freshen up his side. Midfielder Darren Pratley is ruled out after suffering a gashed leg during the 3-1 defeat by Tottenham in Tuesday’s rearranged FA Cup quarter-final, but David Wheater could return after being rested. Fabrice Muamba remains in hospital following his cardiac arrest in the original tie at White Hart Lane.
Last season: Bolton 1 Wolves 0, Wolves 2 Bolton 3
Last five league matches: Wolves D L L L L; Bolton L L L W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 10; Marvin Sordell (Bolton) 10
Match odds: H 13-10 A 15-8 D 5-2
Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).
Sunday, April 1st
Newcastle (6) v Liverpool (7)
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will be boosted by the returns of Cheick Tiote and Ryan Taylor from hamstring and calf injuries, respectively. However, central defender and captain Fabricio Coloccini is out with a torn hamstring, joining long-term absentees Peter Lovenkrands (thigh), Leon Best, Sammy Ameobi (both knee), Steven Taylor (Achilles) and Sylvain Marveaux (groin) on the casualty list.
Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam will miss out as he must wait a fortnight for further assessment of a knee problem. Manager Kenny Dalglish is hopeful
ome of his other players will be fit to return, however, with defenders Glen Johnson (calf), Martin Kelly (ankle) and Daniel Agger (rib) all missing for last weekend’s defeat to Wigan. Midfielder Maxi Rodriguez has recovered from the illness but forward Craig Bellamy (calf) has missed four successive matches.
Last season: Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 3 Liverpool 1
Last five league matches: Newcastle D D L W W; Liverpool L L W L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Demba Ba (Newcastle) 16; Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 12
Match odds: H 19-10 A 11-8 D 12-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Tottenham (4) v Swansea (10)
Winger Aaron Lennon (hamstring) is expected to make his return from a three-week layoff for Tottenham. Ledley King (knee) may miss out after playing in Tuesday’s win over Bolton but long-term absentees Michael Dawson (ankle), goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes (knee) and midfielder Tom Huddlestone (ankle) are out.
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers has Nathan Dyer back from a three-match suspension and he will compete with Wayne Routledge for the right wing spot. Midfielder Andrea Orlandi has stepped up his recovery from a hamstring injury after featuring for the reserves on Thursday, but the visit to White Hart Lane comes too soon for him.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Tottenham L L L D D; Swansea L W W W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 15; Danny Graham & Rory Donnelly (Swansea) 12
Match odds: H 2-5 A 15-2 D 10-3
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
Monday, April 2nd
Blackburn (16) v Man Utd (1)
Defender Gael Givet is again Blackburn’s only doubt ahead of their clash with leaders Manchester United. Givet aggravated a slight hamstring problem while warming up during Rovers’ victory over Sunderland earlier this month.
Rio Ferdinand will be fit for Manchester United, even though the defender had to be replaced during this week’s win over Fulham with a back problem. Nani (ankle) is still sidelined, along with long-term absentees Michael Owen, Anders Lindegaard, Anderson, Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher.
Last season: Blackburn 1 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 7 Blackburn 1
Last five league matches: Blackburn L D W W L; Man Utd W W W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Ayegbeni Yakubu (Blackburn) 15; Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 29
Match odds: H 13-2 A 2-5 D 15-4
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
