Saturday, January 28:
Aston Villa v Port Vale
Aston Villa striker Kevin Phillips will return after a two-month absence with an ankle injury. Gareth Barry will be serving a one-match suspension and Jlloyd Samuel - the target of abuse from Villa fans on his rare appearances this season - is likely to be given a rare outing at left-back. Vale's Lee Matthews, Robin Hulbert, Hector Sam and Michael Walsh are again missing with long-term injuries. But Jeff Smith has shrugged off an ankle injury and midfield duo Tony Dinning and Danny Sonner return after suspension.
Top scorers: Milan Baros & Steven Davis (Aston Villa) 6; Leon Constantine (Port Vale) 7
Match odds: H 1-4 A 9-1 D 7-2
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
Bolton v Arsenal
Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata returns for Bolton and looks likely to replace Gary Speed (knee) who will be out for four weeks. Khalilou Fadiga is struggling with a similar problem. Henrik Pedersen (Achilles) is out while Jay-Jay Okocha, El-Hadji Diouf, Abdoulaye Faye and Radhi Jaidi are all away on duty in the African Nations Cup. Arsenal have Gilberto (calf) out, while Thierry Henry, Lauren, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires are all rested and first-choice goalkeeper Jens Lehmann may also be given the weekend off. Ashley Cole (thigh), Gael Clichy (foot), Pascal Cygan (hamstring) and Cesc Fabregas (suspended) are out. Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor are at the African Nations Cup.
Top scorers: Kevin Nolan (Bolton) 8; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 17
Match odds: H 2-1 A 23-20 D 21-10
Referee: M Dean (Wirral).
Brentford v Sunderland
Ricky Newman is available to play for Brentford - he was sent off in last weekend's win over Huddersfield but the red card was rescinded after an appeal. Boss Martin Allen has no new injury concerns for the tie, with long-term victims Darren Pratley, Oli Skulason and Alex Rhodes the only absentees. Sunderland striker Kevin Kyle is set for a first senior appearance since August 2004 after a hip problem and could play a part at some point in the game at Griffin Park. George McCartney (hamstring), Stephen Wright (calf), Stephen Elliott (back) and Chris Brown (ankle) continue their fights for fitness.
Top scorers: Dudley Campbell (Brentford) 10 ; Anthony Le Tallec & Dean Whitehead (Sunderland) 4
Match odds: H 11-5 A 1-1 D 11-5
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Charlton v Leyton Orient
Charlton will be without winger Dennis Rommedahl (cracked rib) and striker Marcus Bent (cup-tied) for the visit of Orient. Midfielders Danny Murphy and Alexei Smertin could be back in contention after time on the sidelines. Orient's Jabo Ibehre is suspended and Clint Easton is rated 50-50 by boss Martin Ling as he continues to struggle with a calf injury.
Top scorers: Darren Bent (Charlton) 14; Gary Alexander (Leyton Orient) 14
Match odds: H 2-7 A 7-1 D 7-2
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
Cheltenham v Newcastle
Shane Duff looks to be winning his battle to overcome an ankle injury but fellow Cheltenham defender Jamie Victory is out with a groin problem, while midfielder Grant McCann is still recovering from a cartilage operation. New signing Mickey Bell is cup-tied having appeared in the competition for former club Port Vale. Newcastle have Scott Parker (knee), Emre (hamstring) and Shola Ameobi (hip) all fit again. Lee Bowyer is out with a virus - while Kieron Dyer and Craig Moore (both hamstring) Stephen Carr (hernia) and Steven Taylor (shoulder) are all still missing. Amady Faye is at the African Nations Cup with Senegal.
Top scorers: Gary Bradshaw (Cheltenham) 11; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 8
Match odds: H 5-1 A 1-2 D 12-5
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
Colchester v Derby
Goalkeeper Aidan Davison (hamstring) and midfielder Kevin Watson (knee) remain major doubts. Liam Chilvers has had an operation on an abdominal problem, fellow defender Wayne Brown will also be absent, while Marino Keith and Stephen Hunt are still sidelined with ankle injuries. Derby striker Paul Peschisolido could be excused FA Cup duty on compassionate grounds with wife Karren Brady having been diagnosed as suffering a brain aneurysm. On-loan Middlesbrough striker Danny Graham has recovered from a foot injury but has been denied permission to play by his full-time employers. Darren Moore is cup-tied but Seth Johnson should be available after recovering from a knee problem.
Top scorers: Chris Iwelumo (Colchester) 14; Inigo Idiakez (Derby) 8
Match odds: H 5-4 A 9-5 D 21-10
Referee: B Curson (Leicestershire).
Coventry v Middlesbrough
Dennis Wise is banned, leaving manager Micky Adams short in midfield with Stephen Hughes sidelined by an Achilles injury. Isaac Osbourne is out for the season with ruptured knee ligaments but Adams hopes Claus Jorgensen recovers from a thigh injury. Robert Page's recovery from a double fracture of the cheekbone has progressed ahead of schedule and the defender may make a comeback against Boro wearing a protective mask. Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer could return to the starting line-up with deputy Brad Jones struggling. Jones is battling against a groin injury, which may let his fellow Australian back into the team after he withdrew a transfer request submitted earlier this month.
Top scorers: Gary McSheffrey (Coventry) 12; Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough) 15
Match odds: H 7-4 A 13-10 D 21-10
Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).
Everton v Chelsea
Everton will be without Tim Cahill, who is suspended, and cup-tied Alan Stubbs. There is an injury doubt over Italian Matteo Ferrari (hamstring), while Joseph Yobo is away on international duty. Wales midfielder Simon Davies should return after an ankle injury, but Everton have a major long-term injury list that includes Li Tie, Lee Carsley, James Vaughan, Andy van der Meyde and Alessandro Pistone. Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho may be tempted to replace suspended centre-half Ricardo Carvalho with German international Robert Huth as William Gallas is likely to remain at right-back. Striker Didier Drogba is on African Nations Cup duty. As Michael Essien is still out with ankle ligament trouble, loan signing Maniche could make his first start in midfield.
Top scorers: James Beattie (Everton) 7; Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 14
Match odds: H 5-1 A 1-2 D 12-5
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).
Leicester v Southampton
City midfielder Gareth Williams (ankle) is a doubt and striker Matty Fryatt is cup-tied after previously appearing for Walsall. Danny Tiatto (hamstring) is out and the game is likely to come too soon for Lee Morris (knee). Defender Patrik Gerrbrand is available after missing the loss at Plymouth because his wife was giving birth, but winger Momo Sylla remains absent while on African Nations Cup duty with Guinea. New signings Jim Brennan and Darren Potter are available for Southampton. Striker Brett Ormerod (dead leg) hopes to play, but Rory Delap and Djamel Belmadi (both Achilles) are set to miss out and Darren Kenton serves a one-match ban. Yoann Folly (thigh) and Matthew Mills (knee) are struggling and the game comes too soon for Kamil Kosowski (hamstring).
Top scorers: Matt Fryatt (Leicester) 15; Dexter Blackstock (Southampton) 7
Match odds: H 11-8 A 9-5 D 19-10
Referee: N Miller (Durham).
Man City v Wigan
Ben Thatcher (chest infection) is again out for City, while long-term absentees Danny Mills (shin) and Claudio Reyna (broken ankle) are expected back in training within a fortnight. Richard Dunne, who suffered a gash just above the eye, will play and Robbie Fowler could start up front with Antoine Sibierski. Wigan have Arjan de Zeeuw, David Connolly, David Wright, Emerson Thome, Ryan Taylor, Lee McCulloch and Steve McMillan out injured, while recent signing David Thompson is ineligible, with Henri Camara still on African Nations' Cup duty with Senegal. But recent loan signings Neil Mellor and Reto Ziegler are available.
Top scorers: Andy Cole (Man City) 8; Jason Roberts (Wigan) 13
Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-5 D 11-5
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
Preston v Crystal Palace
Preston will be without four key players as midfielder Paul McKenna and striker David Nugent are both suspended and new signings Brian Stock and Simon Whaley are both cup-tied after playing for Bournemouth and Bury respectively. There are doubts over Matt Hill (calf) and Brian O'Neil (groin). Goalkeeper Andy Lonergan (knee) and midfielder Adam Nowland (broken leg) are both long-term injury victims. Northern Ireland international Michael Hughes is suspended for Palace. Mikele Leigertwood could return from a thigh injury to replace Hughes, but Marco Reich (foot), Danny Granville (knee) and Danny Butterfield (pelvis) remain doubtful.
Top scorers: Simon Whaley & David Nugent (Preston) 7; Andrew Johnson (Crystal Palace) 11
Match odds: H 5-4 A 15-8 D 2-1
Referee: M Jones (Cheshire).
Reading v Birmingham
Reading striker Dave Kitson is expected to be out of action for another 10 days with a hamstring strain and Steve Sidwell (knee) and Shane Long (ankle) are slight doubts, although manager Steve Coppell is hopeful of them being fit in time. New signing John Halls is definitely out for another two weeks. Birmingham are without central defenders Matthew Upson (suspended), Martin Taylor (ankle) and Kenny Cunningham (groin). Full-backs Mario Melchiot and Alex Bruce may have to be used as makeshift central defenders.
Top scorers: Dave Kitson (Reading) 17; Jiri Jarosik (Birmingham) 7
Match odds: H 6-5 A 9-5 D 11-5
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).
Stoke v Walsall
Manager Johan Boskamp is boosted by the return of Dave Brammer but Stoke will be without midfielder Darel Russell due to a knee injury, while striker Hannes Sigurdsson is also struggling with a foot injury. Saddlers player-boss Paul Merson is expected to recall on-loan duo Michael Leary and Kevin James but striker James Constable is cup-tied. Mads Timm is back from a calf niggle and Simon Osborn could feature after overcoming a hamstring problem - while Ian Roper is set to start on the bench despite overcoming a hamstring problem of his own. Paul Devlin (calf), Merson (Achilles) and Darren Wrack (shin) are out.
Top scorers: Sambegou Bangoura (Stoke) 9; James Constable (Walsall) 11
Match odds: H 8-11 A 7-2 D 21-10
Referee: K Stroud (Dorset).
West Ham v Blackburn
Hammers striker Dean Ashton will have to wait for another week to make his club debut after failing to recover from a groin injury in time. Goalkeeper Roy Carroll misses out with a back problem, while Christian Dailly will fill in at right-back following Tomas Repka's move to Sparta Prague. Blackburn are without Craig Bellamy because of a recurrence of his hamstring problem, and he joins Paul Dickov (shoulder) on the sidelines. Shefki Kuqi is Mark Hughes' only remaining fit first-team front man and he is expected to be partnered by David Bentley in a patched-up forward line.
Top scorers: Dean Ashton (West Ham) 11; Craig Bellamy (Blackburn) 9
Match odds: H 13-10 A 7-4 D 21-10
Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Sunday, January 29
Portsmouth v Liverpool
Portsmouth skipper Dejan Stefanovic is likely to play after a scan revealed he had not fractured his cheek in the 5-0 defeat at Birmingham. But Noe Pamarot (hamstring) and Andy Griffin (suspension) are both out. Strikers Benjani Mwaruwari and Lomana LuaLua are still in Egypt for the African Nations Cup. Goalkeeper Dean Kiely could be handed his debut. Jose Reina is expected to take over in goal from Scott Carson for Liverpool, who have only Boudewijn Zenden (knee) as a long-term injury victim. Luis Garcia is not expected to be involved as he recovers from a knee problem.
Top scorers: Gary O'Neil & Matthew Taylor (Portsmouth) 4; Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 16
Match odds: H 19-5 A 6-10 D 12-5
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).
Wolves v Man Utd
Wolves' new signing Tomasz Frankowski could make his debut after a £1.4million move from Spanish side Elche, but his availability depends on international clearance. Long-term absentees George Ndah (knee) and Mark Clyde (hip) remain sidelined and defender Jackie McNamara (knee) will miss the rest of the season. Goalkeeper Matt Murray has yet to regain full fitness following surgery to repair a twice-broken foot. United's Ryan Giggs has been ruled out for 10 days with a hamstring injury. Park Ji-sung is available again after a recent knee injury, while Cristiano Ronaldo returns from suspension.
Top scorers: Carl Cort (Wolves) 9; Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 19
Match Odds: H 6-1 A 2-5 D 11-4
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
