Saturday Arsenal (5) v Charlton (13) Robin van Persie returns after a toe injury but defender Sol Campbell is not yet ready for a first-team return after ankle trouble, according to Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. Jose Antonio Reyes (hamstring), Abou Diaby (ankle) and Freddie Ljungberg (calf) are out, while defenders Pascal Cygan (hamstring), Gael Clichy (foot), Ashley Cole (ankle) also continue their rehabilitation.
Charlton forward Marcus Bent again looks set to miss out because of a back problem that is affecting his hamstrings. Long-term absentees Dennis Rommedahl (rib) and Gonzalo Sorondo (foot) made midweek comebacks for the reserves to push themselves nearer to recalls.
Birmingham (18) v Tottenham (4)
David Dunn (hamstring), Jiri Jarosik (hamstring), Muzzy Izzet (calf) and Julian Gray (ankle) are almost certain to be ruled out while Jermaine Pennant and Chris Sutton are struggling with calf problems. Captain Kenny Cunningham is likely to return from a groin injury but fellow Blues defender Matthew Upson is still troubled by groin and pelvic problems. Neil Kilkenny and Stephen Clemence are pushing for recalls.
Spurs striker Mido faces a late fitness test on a groin problem — Jermain Defoe stands by to replace him. Boss Martin Jol is boosted by the return to fitness of Andy Reid, Stephen Kelly and Dean Marney.
Blackburn (6) v Middlesbrough (15)
Rovers boss Mark Hughes looks set to name an unchanged line-up — left-back Michael Gray should be fit after returning to training yesterday for the first time since being replaced in Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Aston Villa with a shoulder injury. Tugay (calf) is still out.
Defender Andrew Davies is included in the Boro squad despite injuring a knee against Roma on Wednesday. James Morrison (hip) and Fabio Rochemback (ankle) return after injury, but Tony McMahon (knee ligaments) and Stuart Parnaby (hamstring) are out and Malcolm Christie continues his fight for match fitness.
Bolton (7) v Sunderland (20)
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is set to freshen up his squad in an attempt to shake off the disappointment of their FA Cup exit. Thursday’s defeat at West Ham was draining physically and mentally, according to Allardyce, and Joey O’Brien, Bruno N’Gotty and Hidetoshi Nakata are in line for a return. Henrik Pedersen is pushing for a start but forward El-Hadji Diouf has not sufficiently recovered from a double hernia.
Gary Breen returns to the Sunderland squad after suspension — but is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench. Julio Arca is struggling to overcome a hamstring injury, Dan Smith has been recalled from a loan spell at Huddersfield and stands by for his Premiership debut while Neill Collins is in the squad.
Everton (11) v Aston Villa (14)
Andy van der Meyde, Lee Carsley and Gary Naysmith came through a midweek reserve game and are expected to be in the squad. Duncan Ferguson serves the final match of his seven-game ban.
Villa will give a debut to 19-year-old Gabriel Agbonlahor if the club’s striking crisis does not ease. Milan Baros (ankle) is out while Kevin Phillips (virus) and Juan Pablo Angel (ankle) are doubtful, which could leave Luke Moore as the only fit senior front player.
Man City (10) v Wigan (8)
Striker Georgios Samaras is doubtful after suffering a knee injury in the FA Cup win over Aston Villa. City boss Stuart Pearce also makes late checks on captain Sylvain Distin (virus) and Joey Barton (ankle).
David Thompson (knee) and Damien Francis (foot) are likely to be fit and David Connolly is set for a Wigan squad place after scoring for the reserves on his comeback from a hamstring injury.
West Brom (17) v Man Utd (2)
West Brom defender Paul Robinson has shaken off a knee injury. The left-back limped out of last weekend’s derby draw at Birmingham in the first half but is back in full training.
Wes Brown is ruled out for United after sustaining a groin injury in training earlier this week — Nemanja Vidic is set to play in his place. Ruud van Nistelrooy may return, but not at the expense of Wayne Rooney.
West Ham (9) v Portsmouth (19)
Hammers goalkeeper Shaka Hislop (hamstring) is a doubt — Stephen Bywater stands by for a rare start but may have to remain on the bench as Jimmy Walker is fit again after a long-term knee injury. Manager Alan Pardew is set to rest players but skipper Nigel Reo-Coker, who had been hampered by illness, has been passed fit to feature in both games.
Andres D’Alessandro will play behind a front pairing of Lomana LuaLua and Svetoslav Todorov, who is set to get the nod over Benjani Mwaruwari. Pompey captain Gary O’Neil has overcome an ankle injury to continue in midfield with Sean Davis and Pedro Mendes. The only defensive change could see Noe Pamarot return after a hamstring injury at the expense of right-back Brian Priske.
Sunday
Fulham (16) v Chelsea (1)
Wayne Bridge is ruled out of Fulham’s game with Chelsea under the terms of his loan transfer from Stamford Bridge. Niclas Jensen or Moritz Volz, who has been recalled to the squad, will take the place of the England left-back. Midfielders Mark Pembridge and Michael Brown, who suffered knocks in the 5-1 midweek defeat at Liverpool, missed training today but manager Chris Coleman expects them to be fit.
Chelsea’s Arjen Robben serves the second game of his four-match ban for a red card at West Brom. Jose Mourinho has no injury worries but must make some key tactical decisions. Robert Huth, who has started the last three Premiership games, could continue alongside John Terry at centre-half.
Newcastle (12) v Liverpool (3)
Defenders Titus Bramble and Craig Moore may be included in the Magpies squad after recovering from hamstring problems. Stephen Carr is back in training after hernia surgery, but is unlikely to be ready until next weekend, while Michael Owen (foot) and Steven Taylor (shoulder) are out.
Xabi Alonso returns for Liverpool after his one-match ban. Liverpool also have defender Sami Hyypia fully fit following a hamstring problem which kept him out of the Benfica Champions League clash and forced him onto the bench for the home win over Fulham on Wednesday.
