Premier League Weekend Team News
Saturday
Arsenal (3) v Portsmouth (18)
Croatia striker Eduardo is fit, having recovered from a groin problem which ruled him out of the Champions League qualifier against Celtic. England forward Theo Walcott (back), however, has once again been ruled out. Reserve goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (knee), Czech international Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), winger Samir Nasri (broken leg) and defender Johan Djourou (knee) all continue their rehabilitation.
Pompey are without midfielder Papa Bouba Diop, who faces a possible three to six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. Manager Paul Hart remains without Herman Hreidarsson and Steve Finnan, who are also suffering with hamstring problems and are at least two weeks away from returning.
Last season:Portsmouth 0 Arsenal 3, Arsenal 1 Portsmouth 0
Last five league matches:Arsenal W L D W W; Portsmouth L W L L L
Top scorers:Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 2; Portsmouth n/a
Birmingham (9) v Stoke (14)
Blues boss Alex McLeish will check on the fitness of left-back Gregory Vignal (hip) and striker Cameron Jerome (ankle). Stuart Parnaby is ready to replace Vignal if he is ruled out, with new signing Christian Benitez set to take over from Jerome should he fail to recover. Midfielder Lee Bowyer is suspension-free.
Ricardo Fuller and Liam Lawrence, both substitutes in Wednesday’s defeat at Liverpool, are expected to be recalled to Stoke’s starting line-up. Fuller looks certain to rejoin James Beattie in attack while Lawrence is expected to oust Richard Cresswell from the right flank. Rory Delap is likely to retain his place in midfield, meaning either Glenn Whelan or Matthew Etherington will be demoted to the bench.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Birmingham W L W L W; Stoke W W L W L
Top scorers:James McFadden (Birmingham) 1; Ryan Shawcross (Stoke) 1
Hull (19) v Bolton (15)
Jozy Altidore could make his Hull debut — the on-loan Villarreal forward's return from international duty last week was delayed by red tape. Craig Fagan is in contention after hernia surgery but midfielder Dean Marney (knee) misses out and Jimmy Bullard and Ian Ashbee are long-term absentees.
Bolton full back Gretar Steinsson could come into contention after sitting out the defeat by Sunderland last week with a virus. Manager Gary Megson will again be without Ricardo Gardner, Joey O’Brien and Ricardo Vaz Te through injury.
Last season:Bolton 1 Hull 1, Hull 0 Bolton 1
Last five league matches:Hull L D L L L; Bolton D D D L L
Top scorers:Stephen Hunt (Hull) 2, Bolton n/a
Man City (5) v Wolves (13)
City pair Robinho (ankle) and Emmanuel Adebayor (groin) are doubtful but left back Wayne Bridge is expected to be available despite a hamstring problem. Striker Roque Santa Cruz and midfielders Vincent Kompany and Michael Johnson remain sidelined.
Wolves are boosted by the return of striker Kevin Doyle and central defender Christophe Berra after groin and hamstring problems respectively — both are likely to be on the bench as boss Mick McCarthy names an unchanged starting line-up. Striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (hamstring) and right back Kevin Foley (knee) are out and forward Chris Iwelumo (foot) and winger Michael Kightly (foot and hip) remain long-term absentees.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Man City W L L W W; Wolves W D W L W
Top scorers:Emmanuel Adebayor & Stephen Ireland (Man City) 1; Andy Keogh (Wolves) 1
Sunderland (11) v Blackburn (17)
Black Cats midfielder Lee Cattermole is struggling with the back problem which forced his departure during the defeat to Chelsea, while goalkeeper Marton Fulop has had injections in a heel injury — Craig Gordon stands by. Steed Malbranque (ankle) could miss out once again, while Cattermole's central midfield partner Lorik Cana is expected to play through the pain after hurting his hand in midweek.
Club captain Ryan Nelsen is back in Rovers’ squad after knee trouble. Vince Grella could feature after coming off the bench last week, while new striker Nikola Kalinic is also in contention after his arrival from Hadjuk Split. Fellow new signing Michel Salgado is yet to receive clearance to play so will have to wait before making his debut. Brett Emerton, Steven Reid and David Dunn remain long-term absentees.
Last season:Sunderland 0 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 1 Sunderland 2
Last five league matches:Sunderland D L L W L; Blackburn L W L D L
Top scorers:Darren Bent (Sunderland) 2; Blackburn n/a
Wigan (7) v Man Utd (10)
Charles N'Zogbia is rated 50-50 for Wigan. The winger injured an ankle in last weekend's win over Aston Villa, but took part in Tuesday's loss to Wolves. However, the injury has not improved and he is a doubt.
Nemanja Vidic is set to make his first appearance of the season for United after ankle trouble and will take his place in a central defence that will miss Rio Ferdinand (thigh) for another three to four weeks. Gary Neville could also be involved from the start at the DW Stadium.
Last season:Wigan 1 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 1 Wigan 0
Last five league matches:Wigan L L W W L; Man Utd W D W W L
Top scorers:Jason Koumas & Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 1; Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 1
Sunday
Burnley (12) v Everton (20)
Clarets captain Steven Caldwell misses the game as he continues his recovery from a groin problem — Andre Bikey is set to retain his place in central defence but defender Michael Duff (ankle) is still struggling.
Everton have doubts over midfielders Jack Rodwell and Steven Pienaar. The pair were hurt in last night’s Europa League play off first-leg win over Sigma Olomouc, with Rodwell twisting his knee and Pienaar picking up a foot injury. The Toffees are also unlikely to have Joleon Lescott back in the squad.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Burnley W D W L W; Everton W D W W L
Top scorers:Robbie Blake (Burnley) 1; Louis Saha (Everton) 1
Fulham (8) v Chelsea (2)
Andrew Johnson will be absent for Fulham after boss Roy Hodgson confirmed the ligaments around the striker's collarbone snapped in a challenge during the 3-1 win over Amkar Perm. Erik Nevland (foot) and Dickson Etuhu (groin) will have fitness tests, while Toni Kallio is ruled out with an Achilles injury. Simon Davies is on course to return from a foot injury while Jonathan Greening could be in the squad.
New signing Yuri Zhirkov is sidelined for Chelsea with a knee injury while Juliano Belletti (Achilles) and defender Alex (groin) are also set to miss out. Joe Cole (knee) and Paulo Ferreira (knee) return to training with the first team next Tuesday.
Last season:Chelsea 3 Fulham 1, Fulham 2 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches:Fulham L W W L W; Chelsea W W W W W
Top scorers:Bobby Zamora (Fulham) 1; Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 2
West Ham (6) v Tottenham (1)
West Ham left back Herita Ilunga has a jaw injury and is expected to be replaced by Jonathan Spector, while James Tomkins returns from a foot problem. The Hammers are without long-term absentees Dean Ashton (ankle), Luis Boa Morte (knee) and Valon Behrami (ankle).
Ledley King is back in the Spurs squad after resting his knee — but fellow central defenders Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Michael Dawson (Achilles) are still out, along with Jermaine Jenas (calf). Left back Gareth Bale has foot trouble, while Carlo Cudicini starts in goal as Heurelho Gomes has a thigh injury.
Last season:Tottenham 1 West Ham 0, West Ham 0 Tottenham 2
Last five league matches:West Ham W L L W W; Tottenham D W L W W
Top scorers:Mark Noble & Matthew Upson (West Ham) 1; Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 3
Monday
Liverpool (4) v Aston Villa (16)
Daniel Agger will have back surgery next week and is likely to be out for six weeks, adding to Reds boss Rafael Benitez's defensive worries. Martin Skrtel is also a doubt, meaning teenager Daniel Ayala stands by. Sotirios Kyrgiakos may figure once his move has been completed and international clearance acquired.
Villa central defender Curtis Davies is doubtful after a recurrence of his shoulder problem. Rookie Shane Lowry is amongst the candidates to replace him although Habib Beye could switch from right back. Boss Martin O’Neill also hopes John Carew is fit to make his first appearance of the season — the striker missed the loss to Wigan with a foot injury and then pulled out of the Rapid Vienna game with a virus.
Last season:Liverpool 5 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Last five league matches:Liverpool W W W L W; Aston Villa W L D W L
Top scorers:Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Dirk Kuyt, David Ngog & Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 1, Aston Villa n/a
