All the latest team news ahead of this weekend's Premier League matches.
Saturday, November 15th
Arsenal (3) v Aston Villa (5)
Striker Emmanuel Adebayor and goalkeeper Manuel Almunia could both return to Arsenal's starting-line-up after recovering from ankle and head injuries respectively. However, the Gunners will be without Robin van Persie who is suspended, and Emmanuel Eboue who is still struggling with a knee problem.
Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov and right-back Luke Young could return from respective hamstring and thigh injuries. Striker John Carew remains a doubt with a hip injury and, if he is sidelined, Gabriel Agbonlahor could again be supported by James Milner in the second striker role.
Last season: Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 1 Arsenal 2
Last five league matches: Arsenal W W D L W; Aston Villa D W W L L
Top scorers: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 9; Gabriel Agbonlahor & John Carew (Aston Villa) 7
Match odds: H 8-15 A 6-1 D 11-4
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
Blackburn (15) v Sunderland (19)
Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy has been ruled out because of a family bereavement. Roque Santa Cruz is pushing for a place in the starting line-up after scoring in midweek in the Carling Cup victory against the same opponents after recovering from a hamstring strain. Andre Ooijer is also in contention following a knee problem but Keith Andrews remains doubtful with a similar injury.
Sunderland boss Roy Keane will hope Kenwyne Jones has suffered no reaction to his midweek outing against Rovers after being given the all-clear over his knee injury. Keeper Craig Gordon (ankle) and full-back George McCartney (foot) remain doubts, while young striker Martyn Waghorn (ankle) is still missing.
Last season: Blackburn 1 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 1 Blackburn 2
Last five league matches: Blackburn D D L D L; Sunderland D W L L L
Top scorers: Matt Derbyshire (Blackburn) & Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn) 3; Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 4
Match odds: H 21-20 A 13-5 D 23-10
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
Bolton (11) v Liverpool (2)
Bolton captain Kevin Nolan returns from suspension after serving a one-match ban during last weekend's 1-0 victory at Hull and should make an immediate return to the starting line-up. Wanderers boss Gary Megson has no other concerns and could bring back Nolan at Johan Elmander's expense.
Local boy Stephen Darby could make his first senior start for Liverpool at right-back because Alvaro Arbeloa is suspended. Swiss international full-back Philipp Degen has been diagnosed with a broken foot following the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Spurs and is out for a month. Manager Rafael Benitez must decide whether to include Darby or switch Jamie Carragher to right-back and bring in Sami Hyypia in central defence.
Last season: Bolton 1 Liverpool 3, Liverpool 4 Bolton 0
Last five league matches: Bolton D L L W W; Liverpool W W W L W
Top scorers: Kevin Davies (Bolton) 4; Dirk Kuyt & Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 6
Match odds: H 5-1 A 4-7 D 14-5
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire).
Fulham (10) v Tottenham (16)
Fulham welcome back forward Seol Ki-Hyeon (knee) and defender Toni Kallio (virus). Midfielder Dickson Etuhu has resumed training following a knee injury but is not yet ready for first-team action.
Midfielder Jermaine Jenas has recovered from a toe injury and is back in the Tottenham squad along with left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who returns from suspension. Skipper Ledley King could return after being rested for the midweek Carling Cup win over Liverpool and Heurelho Gomes should be fit despite sustaining a head injury against the Reds but Giovani dos Santos is out with an ankle problem.
Last season: Tottenham 5 Fulham 1, Fulham 3 Tottenham 3
Last five league matches: Fulham D D W L W; Tottenham L W D W W
Top scorers: Danny Murphy & Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 3; Darren Bent (Tottenham) 11
Match odds: H 21-10 A 13-10 D 23-10
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Man Utd (4) v Stoke (12)
Alex Ferguson expects Wayne Rooney to shrug off a slight chest infection after he missed a couple of days' training this week. Wholesale changes are expected from the midweek Carling Cup win over QPR, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand among those who can expect a recall.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis is hoping striker Mamady Sidibe will be fit after suffering an ankle injury in the draw with Wigan. Pulis is set to revert to the side that secured a point last Saturday after making wholesale changes in the Carling Cup in midweek.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Man Utd W D W W L; Stoke W L W W D
Top scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 7; Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) 5
Match odds: H 1-7 A 18-1 D 13-2
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Newcastle (18) v Wigan (17)
Newcastle defender Steven Taylor (groin) missed Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Fulham with a groin problem and is not yet ready to return, so Claudio Cacapa, who deputised at Craven Cottage, and Sebastien Bassong are standing by. Michael Owen is again likely to start on the bench, and although Mark Viduka (Achilles) has returned to training, the game will come too soon for him.
Wigan boss Steve Bruce is sweating on the fitness of Emile Heskey. The England striker is rated 50-50 to return after aggravating a hamstring problem last weekend. Daniel de Ridder deputised against Arsenal but Bruce could elect for a more attacking line-up and pair Henri Camara up front with top scorer Amr Zaki.
Last season: Wigan 1 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 1 Wigan 0
Last five league matches: Newcastle D L W W L; Wigan L L L W D
Top scorers: Michael Owen (Newcastle) 5; Amr Zaki (Wigan) 9
Match odds: H 21-20 A 11-4 D 9-4
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
West Brom (20) v Chelsea (1)
West Brom centre-back Abdoulaye Meite will return to the squad if he suffers no reaction to his calf after returning to training on Thursday. Midfielder James Morrison is also in contention after overcoming a back problem. Defender Neil Clement (knee) is the only long-term casualty
Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari will add youngsters Miroslav Stoch and Michael Woods to his injury-hit Chelsea squad. Alex (thigh), Juliano Belletti (ankle), Franco di Santo (hamstring), Ricardo Carvalho (knee), Michael Essien (knee), and Joe Cole (hamstring) are all out. Left-back Ashley Cole is fit enough to travel along with Michael Ballack but both are likely to start on the bench.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom L L L D L; Chelsea W L W W W
Top scorers: Roman Bednar (West Brom) 4; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 11
Match odds: H 10-1 A 3-10 D 4-1
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).
West Ham (14) v Portsmouth (9)
West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami is back from a calf problem, James Tomkins is fit again, while striker Carlton Cole returns from suspension. Kieron Dyer has been training with the first team but is not ready for a return, and Diego Tristan is still out after taking a knock in the reserves.
Captain Sol Campbell could again be missing from Portsmouth's defence after suffering a toe injury and Younes Kaboul is on standby to replace him at centre back. John Utaka's likely absence with a stomach virus should mean another start for Niko Kranjcar, while another wide man, Glen Little, is also back in contention after a hamstring tear.
Last season: West Ham 0 Portsmouth 1, Portsmouth 0 West Ham 0
Last five league matches: West Ham L L L D L; Portsmouth D D L L W
Top scorers: Carlton Cole (West Ham) 4; Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth) 7
Match odds: H 6-4 A 15-8 D 11-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Sunday, November 16th
Everton (7) v Middlesbrough (8)
Ayegbeni Yakubu should return to the Everton starting line-up after recovering from a heel injury. The striker missed the 3-1 victory over West Ham last week with the complaint but manager David Moyes has confirmed he is back to full fitness. Midfielder Steven Pienaar also returns following an ankle problem and Marouane Fellaini will replace Jack Rodwell after completing a one-match suspension.
Manager Gareth Southgate is ready to name an unchanged Middlesbrough side with top-scorer Mido struggling to overcome a frustrating groin injury and Justin Hoyte impressing at right-back in last weekend's 2-1 win at Aston Villa. That would mean David Wheater making do with a place on the bench for the second match running.
Last season: Middlesbrough 0 Everton 2, Everton 2 Middlesbrough 0
Last five league matches: Everton L D W W W; Middlesbrough L D W D W
Top scorers: Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 4; Mido (Middlesbrough) 5
Match odds: H 5-6 A 7-2 D 12-5
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Hull (6) v Man City (13)
Hull strikers Marlon King and Dean Windass must wait to find out if they have paid the price for a midweek bust-up when boss Phil Brown picks his side to face the Blues. Assistant manager Brian Horton insists the incident has been dealt with but while Windass has been a peripheral figure, King has been a key man in the Tigers' impressive start to the season. Defender Andy Dawson looks unlikely to shake off a training ground knock, meaning Wales international Sam Ricketts should return.
Richard Dunne and Gelson Fernandes both serve one-match bans for Manchester City following their red cards in last weekend's defeat by Tottenham. Daniel Sturridge (ankle) is a doubt but Vincent Kompany should return after a groin problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Hull W W L L L; Man City D W L L L
Top scorers: Deiberson Geovanni (Hull) 5; De Souza Robinho (Man City) 8
Match odds: H 19-10 A 7-5 D 23-10
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
