All the latest team news and statistics ahead of Wednesday night's second round of Premiership games.
Birmingham (13) v Sunderland (8)
Blues boss Steve Bruce is likely to make just one change to the side which lost 3-2 at Chelsea, with Stuart Parnaby set to start in defence in place of Franck Queudrue (ankle). Damien Johnson (hamstring), Martin Taylor (torn stomach muscle), Mat Sadler (Achilles) and Rafael Schmitz (Achilles) remain sidelined.
Sunderland striker Michael Chopra is expected to recover from a
dead leg in time to push for a place in Roy Keane's starting
line-up. Greg Halford is expected back in the squad after
recovering from a hamstring strain but Grant Leadbitter (also
hamstring) is still definitely ruled out.
Last season: Sunderland 0 Birmingham 1; Birmingham
1 Sunderland 1.
Last five league matches: Birmingham W W W L L;
Sunderland W L W W W
Top scorers: Mikael Forssell & Olivier Kapo
(Birmingham) 1; Michael Chopra (Sunderland) 1
Match odds: H 13-10 A 7-4 D 21-10
Referee: K Stroud (Hampshire).
Fulham (15) v Bolton (19)
Cottagers goalkeeper Antti Niemi has had an MRI scan on his wrist injury and has been told there is no damage, apart from bruising, but he will be sidelined for one more week, so Tony Warner continues to deputise.
New Bolton signing Andy O'Brien is set to line up at the back
alongside Abdoulaye Meite, who has recovered from a back problem.
El-Hadji Diouf looks set to win a recall to the starting line-up as
strikers Kevin Davies (hamstring) and Ricardo Vaz Te (foot) are
ruled out through injury.
Last season: Bolton 2 Fulham 1, Fulham 1 Bolton 1
Last five league matches: Fulham D L W L L; Bolton
L D L D L
Top scorers: David Healy (Fulham) 1; Nicolas
Anelka (Bolton) 1
Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: Lee Probert (Gloucestershire).
Man City (2) v Derby (9)
Valeri Bojinov and Emile Mpenza are pushing for places with City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson hinting he may play two strikers at home instead of the 4-5-1 winning formula he used at West Ham at the weekend. Bulgarian striker Bojinov is the most likely change, replacing Michael Johnson. Andreas Isaksson remains unavailable with a fractured thumb.
Derby midfielder Giles Barnes is sidelined by a foot injury.
Their latest recruit, American midfielder Benny Feilhaber, is
ineligible because his international clearance has not yet come
through.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Man City D L L L W;
Derby L W L W D
Top scorers: Rolando Bianchi & Geovanni (Man
City) 1; Matt Oakley & Andy Todd (Derby) 1
Match odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 23-10
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Portsmouth (10) v Man Utd (11)
Pompey captain Sol Campbell and midfielder Pedro Mendes must pass fitness tests on groin injuries. Linvoy Primus (knee) is out and midfielder Gary O'Neil is recovering from ankle trouble but could challenge Sean Davis for a midfield role or play on the wing — allowing John Utaka to move up front. Kanu hopes to start and it may be the turn of David Nugent and Benjani Mwaruwari to take places on the bench.
Carlos Tevez will make his United debut but fellow striker Wayne
Rooney is out for two months with a fractured left foot. Nani may
have to be content with a place on the bench and while Owen
Hargreaves might hope to be involved, fellow new arrival Anderson
may have to wait for his first taste of competitive action. Mikael
Silvestre is a major doubt after limping out of the Reading draw.
Last season: Portsmouth 2 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 3
Portsmouth 0
Last five league matches: Portsmouth D W L D D;
Man Utd W W D L D
Top scorers: Benjani Mwaruwari & John Utaka
(Portsmouth) 1
Match odds: H 9-2 A 4-7 D 23-10
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).
Reading (12) v Chelsea (3)
Reading will be without strikers Dave Kitson (suspended) and Leroy Lita (hip). Long-term injured players Glen Little (Achilles) and Ibrahima Sonko (knee) remain absent but midfielders Bobby Convey and Emerse Fae could be involved for the first time this season. Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann will keep his place despite not having fully recovered from a broken hand.
Michael Essien (knee) is a major doubt for Chelsea but they have
been boosted by the return of full-back Paulo Ferreira. Defender
Alex is not yet fit enough to be considered, while captain John
Terry (knee) is unlikely to play while Mourinho will make a late
decision on the fitness of Essien. Arjen Robben (knee), Wayne
Bridge and Michael Ballack (ankle) are out.
Last season: Chelsea 2 Reading 2, Reading 0
Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Reading W W L D D;
Chelsea D D D D W
Top scorers: Michael Essien, Florent Malouda,
Claudio Pizarro (Chelsea) 1
Match odds: H 5-1 A 1-2 D 12-5
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Wigan (17) v Middlesbrough (16)
Striker Henri Camara returns after recovering from a knee injury sustained in December which restricted him to just two starts in the closing months of last season. Defender Emmerson Boyce is not yet fit to return from a groin injury while full-back Ryan Taylor is also still out and summer signing Michael Brown must wait for his debut as he continues the suspension incurred with Fulham at the end of last season.
New signing Luke Young again misses out for Boro as he continues
treatment for a thigh strain. Midfielder Fabio Rochemback is still
missing through suspension, while centre-backs Jonathan Woodgate,
Robert Huth and Emanuel Pogatetz are still recovering from
operations.
Last season: Wigan 0 Middlesbrough 1,
Middlesbrough 1 Wigan 1
Last five league matches: Wigan L L L W L;
Middlesbrough D L W W L
Top scorers: Antoine Sibierski (Wigan) 1; Stewart
Downing (Middlesbrough) 1
Match odds: H 13-10 A 7-4 D 21-10
Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset).