Saturday, February 24

Charlton (19) v West Ham (18)

Charlton welcome back striker Darren Bent, who has been out since December 30 with knee trouble. Luke Young, out since mid-December, is also back in the squad following his knee problem — but fellow defenders Hermann Hreidarsson (knee) and Madjid Bougherra (knee) and midfielder Andy Reid (hamstring) are out.

Matthew Upson (calf) will be handed a late fitness test and may partner Calum Davenport in the centre of West Ham's defence, with Anton Ferdinand moving to right-back in place of the suspended Jonathan Spector. James Collins (groin) is also fit to provide another option. Captain Nigel Reo-Coker is banned while Lucas Neill (ankle), Dean Ashton (ankle), Lee Bowyer (shoulder) and Danny Gabbidon (abductor muscle) are out.

Last season:West Ham 0 Charlton 0, Charlton 2 West Ham 0

Last five league matches:Charlton L W D L L; West Ham D D L L L

Top scorers: Darren Bent (Charlton) 10; Kepa Blanco (West Ham) 8

Match odds: H 5-4 A 9-5 D 21-10

Referee: R Styles (Hampshire)

Fulham (14) v Man Utd (1)

Fulham have lost Franck Queudrue with a badly bruised ankle, his place at left-back will be taken by Liam Rosenior. The Cottagers have captain Michael Brown available again after suspension, but will have to do without the suspended Vincenzo Montella, while Ian Pearce is still unavailable.

Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo have both been passed fit for United. Ronaldo sustained a foot injury in the Champions League win over Lille, while Giggs suffered a minor knock. However, Sir Alex Ferguson expects both men to be part of a full-strength squad.

Last season:Man Utd 4 Fulham 2, Fulham 2 Man Utd 3

Last five league matches:Fulham D D L W L; Man Utd W L W W W

Top scorers:Brian McBride (Fulham) 11; Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 15

Match odds: H 11-2 A 4-9 D 13-5

Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire)

Liverpool (3) v Sheff Utd (15)

Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko is expected to have recovered from the shin injury which forced him off against Barcelona. Peter Crouch, Jermaine Pennant and Sami Hyypia will come into consideration, as will Argentinian midfielder Javier Mascherano.

Danny Webber (calf), Luton Shelton (groin) and Chris Morgan (calf) are all doubts for the Blades, who are also without the suspended Leigh Bromby and Keith Gillespie.

Last season:No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Liverpool W W W D L; Sheff Utd D L W L W

Top scorers:Peter Crouch (Liverpool) 13; Luton Shelton (Sheff Utd) 8

Match odds:H 2-7 A 8-1 D 16-5

Referee: S Bennett (Kent)

Middlesbrough (12) v Reading (6)

Striker Lee Dong-Gook could make his senior debut for Boro, after playing 45 minutes for the reserves last night he is in contention for a place in the 16. Jonathan Woodgate (thigh) and Lee Cattermole (hamstring) are fit — but Fabio Rochemback will miss out once again with a shin injury.

Reading will be without banned centre-back Andre Bikey.  January signing Michael Duberry will make his debut unless manager Steve Coppell elects to give another chance to fringe man Sam Sodje.

Last season:No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches:Middlesbrough W W D D L; Reading D W W W W

Top scorers:Ayegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough) 15; Leroy Lita (Reading) 13

Match odds:H 13-10 A 7-4 D 21-10

Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire)

Watford (20) v Everton (8)

Watford are almost certain to be without goalkeeper Ben Foster, who sustaining a dead leg in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Wigan. Richard Lee is likely to return in goal.

Everton striker Andrew Johnson (knee) may still be out but midfielder Tim Cahill is back from suspension, Andy van der Meyde (groin) and Nuno Valente (calf) are injured, with Tony Hibbert set to claim the right-back berth, allowing skipper Phil Neville to revert to a midfield role.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches:Watford W L L W D; Everton D W D W L

Top scorers: Will Hoskins (Watford) 16; Andrew Johnson (Everton) 10

Match odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 11-5

Referee: L Mason (Lancashire)

Sunday, February 25

Blackburn (11) v Portsmouth (7)

Rovers duo Christopher Samba and Bruno Berner are available again after missing the UEFA Cup aggregate defeat by Bayer Leverkusen as they were ineligible. Midfielder Aaron Mokoena also comes into contention after being sidelined through suspension last night.

Pedro Mendes is expected to figure for Pompey — the midfielder had been a doubt after Joey Barton's infamous challenge damaged his Achilles two weeks ago against Manchester City. Lauren is out with a thigh injury and centre-back Linvoy Primus is a doubt with a similar knock.

Last season: Portsmouth 2 Blackburn 2, Blackburn 2 Portsmouth 1

Last five league matches: Blackburn W L L W L; Portsmouth D L D L W

Top scorers: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 15; Kanu (Portsmouth) 12

Match odds: H 23-20 A 2-1 D 21-10

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside)

Tottenham (10) v Bolton (5)

Spurs centre-back Anthony Gardner has a hip problem and will need a late check before the match. Ledley King (foot) is still sidelined so Ricardo Rocha may deputise if Gardner does not make it. Mido (groin) and Tom Huddlestone (hamstring) are struggling for fitness, while full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) is out.

Bolton must make do without suspended pair Tal Ben Haim and David Thompson but Abdoulaye Faye may be in line to return following an operation to remove an abscess, while Nicky Hunt will have a late test on his injured ankle. Kevin Davies is definitely still out with a knee problem.

Last season: Tottenham 1 Bolton 0, Bolton 1 Tottenham 0

Last five league matches: Tottenham L D L L W; Bolton D L D W W

Top scorers:Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham) 15; Nicolas Anelka (Bolton) 9

Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-5 D 11-5

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire)

Wigan (17) v Newcastle (9)

Wigan's Fitz Hall starts a three-match suspension, after the club's appeal against the red card the defender picked up at Watford was dismissed by the Football Association. Striker Caleb Folan should be fit to play after limping off at Watford with an ankle knock.

Captain Scott Parker returns after hamstring trouble, while Antoine Sibierski (hamstring) may  also be back for the Magpies. Celestine Babayaro is a doubt with a similar problem but defender Oguchi Onyewu is available after being ineligible for the European game, while Shay Given (groin), Craig Moore (hamstring) and Charles N'Zogbia (knee) could make the squad.

Last season:Newcastle 3 Wigan 1, Wigan 1 Newcastle 0

Last five league matches: Wigan L L W L D; Newcastle W D W L W

Top scorers: Caleb Folan (Wigan) 13; Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 13

Match odds:H 11-8 A 8-5 D 11-5

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire)