SATURDAY
Blackburn (19) v Newcastle (11)Striker Roque Santa Cruz (calf) and midfielder David Dunn (hamstring) return for Blackburn after missing four and two games respectively.
Steven Taylor (calf) and Andy Carroll (hamstring) were included among the substitutes for Newcastle’s FA Cup defeat by Hull a day after being ruled out, with the striker playing the last 14 minutes.
Geremi (back) is in talks with Besiktas over a move and Jose Enrique (groin), Joey Barton, Claudio Cacapa and Shola Ameobi (all knee), Obafemi Martins (hernia surgery), Habib Beye (ankle) and Alan Smith (foot/ankle) remain on the sidelines.
Last season:Newcastle 0 Blackburn 1, Blackburn 3 Newcastle 1. Last five league matches:Blackburn LLWDD; Newcastle WWLLD. Top scorers:Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 7; Michael Owen (Newcastle) 10.
Bolton (12) v Manchester United (2)
Centreback Gary Cahill has almost fully recovered from a hip injury, while right back Gretar Steinsson returns from suspension. However, captain Kevin Nolan is still banned, while midfielder Gavin McCann (broken toe) and striker Johan Elmander (hamstring) are injured.
Zenit St Petersburg defender Sebastien Puygrenier, signed on loan last week, could be included in the squad if his international clearance comes through.
Carlos Tevez and Jonny Evans both face 10am fitness tests and are now extreme doubts for United. Wayne Rooney (hamstring), Patrice Evra (foot) and Rio Ferdinand (back) are all out, so academy graduate James Chester has been added to Alex Ferguson’s squad.
Last season:Man Utd 2 Bolton 0, Bolton 1 Man Utd 0. Last five league matches:Bolton LWLLL; Man Utd DWWWW. Top scorers:Kevin Davies, Johan Elmander & Matt Taylor (Bolton) 5; Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 12.
Chelsea (3) v Stoke (17)
Didier Drogba is back in the Chelsea squad after he was axed for the midweek FA Cup third-round replay against Southend. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is boosted by the return of Florent Malouda after a hamstring injury but looks set to lose Joe Cole to a knee problem. Midfielder Deco misses out with a calf strain, but Ricardo Carvalho is fit after a calf problem.
Striker James Beattie is expected to make his debut for Stoke after completing a midweek move from Sheffield United. Midfielder Salif Diao could be available after suffering a back spasm, but Ricardo Fuller remains suspended.
Last season:No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches:Chelsea DDWDL; Stoke DLLLD. Top scorers:Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 17; James Beattie (Stoke) 12.
Hull (8) v Arsenal (5)
Winger Kevin Kilbane goes straight into the Hull squad after completing his move from Wigan. The Republic of Ireland player could be joined by Manchester United’s Angola striker Manucho, who has agreed a loan move to the KC Stadium but is still awaiting a work permit.
Midfielder George Boateng is missing and could be sidelined for up to three months after suffering knee ligament damage in the midweek FA Cup win at Newcastle.
Defender Kamil Zayatte is suspended and Paul McShane has been recalled from his loan spell by Sunderland, but Andy Dawson (Achilles) and Anthony Gardner (thigh) are both fit again.
Midfielder Alex Song faces a late fitness test on his thigh problem before the trip to East Yorkshire. Defenders William Gallas (hamstring) and Mikael Silvestre (thigh) remain sidelined, while striker Eduardo continues to build up his match fitness following nine months out with a broken leg.
Last season:No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches:Hull DLLLL; Arsenal DDDWW. Top scorers:Geovanni (Hull) 6; Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) 12.
Manchester City (15) v Wigan (7)
Robinho will return for City following an ankle complaint while Shaun Wright-Phillips (hamstring) faces a late fitness test and remains 50-50 at best.
England full-back Wayne Bridge should make his debut but Stephen Ireland is suspended and Dietmar Hamann begins a lengthy stint on the sidelines after a toe operation.
Wigan manager Steve Bruce has no fresh injury worries following the defeat by Manchester United in midweek. Midfielders Olivier Kapo and Michael Brown are both pushing for a place in the starting line-up against their local rivals.
Last season:Man City 0 Wigan 0, Wigan 1 Man City 1. Last five league matches:Man City DLLWD; Wigan WWWWL. Top scorers:Robinho (Man City) 12; Amr Zaki (Wigan) 11.
Sunderland (13) v Aston Villa (4)
Steed Malbranque is suspended for Sunderland but Kieran Richardson should be available after having stitches put into a head wound at Middlesbrough, while Phil Bardsley has recovered from a virus, but the game will come too soon for George McCartney (foot) and Craig Gordon (ankle).
Aston Villa striker John Carew has returned to training for the first time following a long-term back problem but is unlikely to play any part at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
Last season:Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 1, Sunderland 1 Aston Villa 1. Last five league matches:Sunderland WWDLD; Aston Villa WWDWW. Top scorers:Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 9; Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 10.
West Brom (20) v Middlesbrough (16)
Striker Roman Bednar will be suspended after incurring five bookings during the current campaign. Midfielder James Morrison faces a further fortnight on the sidelines with the hamstring injury suffered against Aston Villa.
Middlesbrough captain Emanuel Pogatetz (hamstring) is struggling to be fit while 19-year-old midfielder Josh Walker has been sidelined for four to six weeks with an ankle ligament injury.
However key midfielder Didier Digard, who left the field against the Black Cats with a huge lump on his temple, has fully recovered and will definitely play. Gary O’Neil, who dropped out of last week’s squad with a bronchial infection, also returns.
Last season:No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches:West Brom LWLWL; Middlesbrough DLLLD. Top scorers:Craig Beattie & Roman Bednar (West Brom) 6; Afonso Alves (Middlesbrough) 6.
SUNDAY
Tottenham (18) v Portsmouth (14)
Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas has a calf injury and looks set to miss out against Pompey. Left back Benoit Assou-Ekotto will complete his four-match ban but goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes has been training after picking up a knock in the defeat to Wigan. Right back Alan Hutton (knee) is a long-term absentee.
Portsmouth manager Tony Adams expects Sean Davis and David Nugent to both be available. Davis has recovered from the virus which kept him out of Pompey’s midweek FA Cup replay against Bristol City, while Nugent limped off during the game with a tight hamstring but is set to train tomorrow. Adams is without long-term absentees Papa Bouba Diop and Richard Hughes.
Last season:Tottenham 2 Portsmouth 0, Portsmouth 0 Tottenham 1. Last five league matches:Tottenham DLDLL; Portsmouth DLLLL. Top scorers:Darren Bent & Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham) 12; Peter Crouch (Portsmouth) 13.
West Ham (10) v Fulham (9)
Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard will miss the visit of the Hammers because of a hip injury, but otherwise Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson has a fully-fit squad to select from.
West Ham have no fresh injury worries with Craig Bellamy and Luis Boa Morte set to be included in Gianfranco Zola’s squad despite being the subject of bids from other clubs this week. Dean Ashton (ankle) and Danny Gabbidon (groin) remain long-term absentees.
Last season:Fulham 0 West Ham 1, West Ham 2 Fulham 1. Last five league matches:West Ham DLWWD; Fulham DDWDD. Top scorers:Carlton Cole (West Ham) 8; Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 6.
MONDAY
Liverpool (1) v Everton (6)
Xabi Alonso (foot) and Fernando Torres (hamstring) have declared themselves fit to start for Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. Their fellow Spaniard Alvaro Arbeloa is also set to return after a hamstring problem, but centre back Daniel Agger (calf) may miss the game.
Midfielder Marouane Fellaini is suspended for two matches while up front, Everton are without long-term injury victims James Vaughan (knee), Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Achilles) and Louis Saha (hamstring). Defenders Nuno Valente (knee) and Joseph Yobo (hamstring) are missing too.
Last season:Liverpool 1 Everton 0, Everton 1 Liverpool 2. Last five league matches:Liverpool DDWWD; Everton WDWWW. Top scorers:Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 13; Mikel Arteta & Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 5.
