All the team news for this weekend’s Premier League clashes.

Saturday, October 17th

Arsenal (5) v Birmingham (14)

Arsenal will be without left-back Gael Clichy (ankle) and striker Nicklas Bendtner (groin) but goalkeeper Manuel Almunia should return from a virus. Midfielder Abou Diaby (ankle) is expected to be available along with captain Cesc Fabregas, who missed Spain’s midweek game in Armenia for personal reasons. Winger Samir Nasri (broken leg), striker Eduardo (thigh) and Denilson (back) remain sidelined.

Cameron Jerome is available for Birmingham after two months out with an ankle injury. Fellow forward Christian Benitez should also be available after missing the Burnley game to return to Ecuador because his father had been involved in a car accident. Gregory Vignal, Franck Queudrue, Martin Taylor, David Murphy, Teemu Tainio, Giovanny Espinoza, Stuart Parnaby and Keith Fahey are all out.

Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Arsenal L L W W W; Birmingham L L W L L
Top scorers(all competitions): Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal) 5; Lee Bowyer
(Birmingham) 2
Match odds:H 1-6 A 16-1 D 6-1
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Aston Villa (7) v Chelsea (1)

Luke Young came through a midweek reserve game unscathed and will be battling Carlos Cuellar and Habib Beye for a place in Villa’s defence. Gabriel Agbonlahor is set to keep his place up front after his competitive England debut against Belarus, with Emile Heskey likely to be amongst the substitutes.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech returns from a ban to replace Hilario, who drops to the bench. Midfielder Michael Ballack has been ruled out with the ankle injury sustained on international duty with Germany.
Last season:Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 2 Aston Villa 0
Last five league matches:Aston Villa W W W L D; Chelsea W W W L W
Top scorers(all competitions): Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 5; Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 6
Match odds:H 18-5 A 4-5 D 12-5
Referee:Steve Bennett (Kent).

Everton (10) v Wolves (17)

Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar will undergo a late fitness test on the knee injury which has kept him out of the club’s last two matches. Manager David Moyes is still awaiting the return of USA goalkeeper Tim Howard from international duty.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy will make a late decision on whether to start with Ecuador international Segundo Castillo, following the midfielder's time away on international duty. Winger Michael Kightly (hip and foot) and striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (hamstring) are both fit to return to the starting line-up.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Everton W L W W D; Wolves D L W L L
Top scorers(all competitions): Louis Saha (Everton) 7; Kevin Doyle & Stefan
Maierhofer (Wolves) 2
Match odds:H 4-9 A 7-1 D 6-1
Referee:Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

Man Utd (2) v Bolton (13)

United boss Alex Ferguson will wait for the return of Dimitar Berbatov from Bulgaria before finalising his line-up. Wayne Rooney (calf) is definitely out, while United also have doubts over Darren Fletcher. Michael Owen returns after a groin problem and Edwin van der Sar will make his first appearance of the season after suffering two broken fingers during a pre-season trip to Munich.

Sam Ricketts is Bolton's only fresh injury concern ahead - he pulled out of Wales' World Cup qualifiers with an ankle problem. Johan Elmander returns to the attack after a hamstring injury, while Sean Davis and Joey O'Brien are long-term absentees with knee problems.
Last season:Bolton 0 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 2 Bolton 0
Last five league matches:Man Utd W W W W D; Bolton L W D W D
Top scorers(all competitions): Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 7; Ivan Klasnic (Bolton)
4
Match odds:H 1-5 A 14-1 D 5-1
Referee:Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Portsmouth (20) v Tottenham (3)

Pompey’s Jamie O’Hara is ineligible to play against his parent club. David James is expected to start in goal despite sitting out England’s clash with Belarus due to a knee injury. Papa Bouba Diop and Richard Hughes are back in full training following hamstring problems but will not feature, while Hermann Hreidarsson is still recovering from a similar injury.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp must decide whether to risk Wilson Palacios, who is not due to return until tomorrow after helping Honduras secure their World Cup place. Ledley King is fit after a hamstring problem but central defensive partner Jonathan Woodgate will not be risked. Midfielder Luka Modric suffered pain while trying to jog for the first time since breaking a leg and is set to be out for longer than expected.
Last season:Tottenham 1 Portsmouth 1, Portsmouth 2 Tottenham 0
Last five league matches:Portsmouth L L L L W; Tottenham W L L W D
Top scorers(all competitions): Younes Kaboul, Tommy Smith & Mike Williamson (Portsmouth) 2; Jermain Defoe & Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 6
Match odds:H 18-5 A 4-5 D 12-5
Referee:Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Stoke (11) v West Ham (19)

Midfielder Glenn Whelan is Stoke’s only doubt with a calf injury. Summer signing Tuncay Sanli, who played for Turkey on Wednesday, is edging closer to a first Barclays Premier League start after three substitute appearances.

West Ham midfielder Scott Parker is suspended, winger Kieron Dyer is still out with a hamstring injury and Dean Ashton (ankle) and Luis Boa Morte (knee) are long-term absentees. However, centre-half Danny Gabbidon is fit after a calf problem.
Last season:Stoke 0 West Ham 1, West Ham 2 Stoke 1
Last five league matches:Stoke W L D L D; West Ham D L L L D
Top scorers(all competitions): Dave Kitson (Stoke) 3; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 4
Match odds:H 23-20 Z 12-5 D 23-10
Referee:Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Sunderland (8) v Liverpool (6)

Sunderland are without the suspended Kieran Richardson — fit-again George McCartney could return at left-back. Lee Cattermole (heel) and John Mensah (calf) are available, while boss Steve Bruce will assess striker Kenwyne Jones following his return from international duty in the Caribbean. Midfielder Boudewijn Zenden could figure against his former club, provided his international clearance comes through in time.

Groin injuries rule out Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres. Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos may be out for several months with a serious knee injury also suffered on international duty. Dirk Kuyt is expected to start up front, while boss Rafael Benitez hopes South American trio Javier Mascherano, Lucas and Emiliano Insua return in good shape from their international commitments.
Last season:Liverpool 2 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 0 Liverpool 1
Last five league matches:Sunderland L W L W D; Liverpool W W W W L
Top scorers(all competitions): Darren Bent (Sunderland) 7; Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 8
Match odds:H 18-5 A 4-5 D 12-5
Referee:Mike Jones (Cheshire).

Sunday, October 18th

Blackburn (16) v Burnley (9)

Vince Grella is out with a thigh injury picked up on international duty with Australia and Steven Reid (Achilles) will also miss the match - but otherwise Sam Allardyce has a strong squad to choose from. Goalkeeper Paul Robinson and centre-half duo Ryan Nelsen and Chris Samba have all recovered from knocks.

Burnley have no new injury concerns, although they still have plenty of long-term casualties. Fernando Guerrero (hamstring), Chris McCann (knee), Kevin McDonald (knee), Martin Paterson (knee) and Jay Rodriguez (ankle) will all miss the east Lancashire derby.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Blackburn D W L W L; Burnley L L W L W
Top scorers(all competitions): David Dunn (Blackburn) 4; Steven Fletcher (Burnley) 4
Match odds:H 3-4 A 4-1 D 12-5
Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Wigan (12) v Man City (4)

Latics boss Roberto Martinez will assess the fitness of his various international players before selecting his squad. Honduras pair Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa, Colombia striker Hugo Rodallega and Trinidad and Tobago forward Jason Scotland have all had long trips back from South and Central America.

City manager Mark Hughes will monitor the fitness of six of his players — and with Robinho already sidelined with a stress fracture of the ankle Hughes could be down on numbers. Kolo Toure (heel), Craig Bellamy (groin), Joleon Lescott (calf), Pablo Zabaleta (hamstring), Martin Petrov (knee) and Nigel De Jong (knock) are all struggling with injury.
Last season:Man City 1 Wigan 0, Wigan 2 Man City 1
Last five league matches:Wigan L W L W L; Man City W W L W D
Top scorers(all competitions): Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 3; Emmanuel Adebayor & Craig Bellamy (Man City) 4
Match odds:H 4-1 A 8-11 D 5-2
Referee:Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Monday, October 19th

Fulham (15) v Hull (18)

Kagisho Dikgacoi is suspended and long-term absentees Toni Kallio (Achilles) and Simon Davies (foot) will also miss out for Fulham, although boss Roy Hodgson is confident Davies will be available for next week’s Europa League match with Roma.

Jimmy Bullard could play some part against his former club almost nine months after suffering a serious knee injury on his Tigers debut. Defender Anthony Gardner, out since August with a knee problem, could also be contention. USA striker Jozy Altidore will not return from international duty until tomorrow, while Ian Ashbee (knee) is the only major long-term absentee with Richard Garcia (knee) nearing a return.
Last season:Fulham 0 Hull 1, Hull 2 Fulham 1
Last five league matches:Fulham L W L L D; Hull D L L L W
Top scorers(all competitions): Danny Murphy (Fulham) 4; Geovanni (Hull) 4
Match odds:H 8-13 A 9-2 A 11-4
Referee:Andre Marriner (W Midlands).