Aston Villa v Wigan:Villa are set to hand Premier League debuts to full-back Habib Beye and midfielder Fabian Delph. Villa's other summer signing, winger Stewart Downing who cost £12million from Middlesbrough, will be sidelined until December by a broken foot. Midfielder Stiliyan Petrov is available after shoulder trouble.

Midfielder Olivier Kapo (knee) is Wigan’s only injury absentee as they prepare to launch a new era under Roberto Martinez. The former Swansea boss could hand debuts to summer signings Jason Scotland and Jordi Gomez, who followed him from the Liberty Stadium.

Last season: Aston Villa 0 Wigan 0, Wigan 0 Aston Villa 4
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D W L D W; Wigan D L L L W
Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 23-10
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Blackburn v Man City

Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen will have a late fitness check on a knee injury. Christopher Samba has made a full recovery from a hamstring strain, but Paul Gallagher is set to miss out with a similar problem. Vince Grella and Nikola Kalinic are not match fit, while Steven Reid, Brett Emerton and David Dunn are all out.

Roque Santa Cruz will miss the chance to make his City debut against his former club - a knee operation is expected to keep him out until September. Emmanuel Adebayor will be assessed after returning from international duty this week with a slight groin injury. Carlos Tevez has overcome a minor heel problem while Craig Bellamy (knee) should also be fit. Vincent Kompany and Michael Johnson are injured.

Last season: Man City 3 Blackburn 1, Blackburn 2 Man City 2
Last five league matches: Blackburn W L W L D; Man City W W L L W
Match odds: H 11-5 A 1-1 D 11-5
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Bolton v Sunderland

Bolton boss Gary Megson could hand debuts to four summer signings. Sean Davis has signed from Portsmouth on a free transfer while West Brom’s Paul Robinson has arrived on a season-long loan. Sam Ricketts and Zat Knight arrived from Hull and Aston Villa respectively but Lee Chung-Yong is unlikely to feature.

Steve Bruce could include four of his summer signings in his squad. Lee Cattermole will be joined by fellow midfielder Lorik Cana and strikers Darren Bent and Fraizer Campbell. Paraguay defender Paulo Da Silva has had his visa application granted, but is unlikely to play due to a lack of match fitness.

Last season: Bolton 0 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 1 Bolton 4
Last five league matches: Bolton D D D D L; Sunderland L L D L L
Match odds: H 6-5 A 15-8 D 21-10
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Chelsea v Hull

Chelsea’s new signing Yuri Zhirkov is absent with a knee injury, while Juliano Belletti (Achilles) and defender Alex (groin) are also set to miss out. Joe Cole (knee) and Paulo Ferreira (knee) are back in training but the fixture comes too soon for the pair.

Hull manager Phil Brown could hand debuts to all four summer signings. Stephen Hunt and Kamel Ghilas will go straight into the squad and could be joined by fellow new boys Seyi Olofinjana and Jozy Altidore. Missing for the Tigers are knee-injury victims Ian Ashbee, Jimmy Bullard and Richard Garcia, but goalkeeper Boaz Myhill is fit again after recovering from a thumb complaint.

Last season: Chelsea 0 Hull 0, Hull 0 Chelsea 3
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W W W; Hull L L L D L
Match odds: H 1-7 A 14-1 D 9-2
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Everton v Arsenal

Brazilian striker Jo has been included in Everton’s squad after recovering sufficiently from an ankle injury. Long-term injury victims Phil Jagielka, Mikel Arteta, Ayegbeni Yakubu and Victor Anichebe remain sidelined. Steven Pienaar has a knee injury and is also doubtful, but Joleon Lescott will play.

Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen is set to make his Arsenal debut after recovering from a groin problem but midfielders Abou Diaby (groin), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Samir Nasri (broken leg) and Theo Walcott (back) are out and defender Johan Djourou (knee) and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (knee) are also sidelined.

Last season: Everton 1 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 3 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Everton L W D W W; Arsenal W W L D W
Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-10 D 11-5
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Portsmouth v Fulham

Portsmouth goalkeeper David James has recovered from shoulder surgery so summer signing Antti Niemi will have to make do with a place on the bench. New loan signing Anthony Vanden Borre will be in the squad if his move from Genoa receives international clearance, but fellow new boy Steve Finnan will not play due to a hamstring problem and Herman Hreidarsson is struggling with the same injury.

Fulham midfielder Simon Davies has a foot injury and defender Toni Kallio is also unavailable because of an Achilles problem which has troubled him in pre-season. New signings Stephen Kelly and Bjorn Helge Riise are included in the squad for Fratton Park.

Last season: Fulham 3 Portsmouth 1, Portsmouth 1 Fulham 1
Last five league matches: Portsmouth D L L W L; Fulham W L W W L
Match odds: H 11-8 A 13-8 D 21-10
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Stoke v Burnley

Glenn Whelan, fresh from his midweek appearance for the Republic of Ireland, could be left out of Stoke’s starting line-up. Whelan played the full 90 minutes in the 3-0 defeat against Australia and Potters boss Tony Pulis hinted newcomer Dean Whitehead will start alongside Rory Delap in midfield. Defender Danny Higginbotham, who faces a late fitness test on a hamstring problem, is the only injury concern.

Owen Coyle is facing a defensive crisis — captain Steven Caldwell sustained a groin injury during Scotland’s 4-0 World Cup qualifier defeat against Norway on Wednesday and looks certain to miss out, while Michael Duff has an ankle injury and new recruit David Edgar is suspended.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Stoke L L W W L; Burnley W L W D W
Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 11-5
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Wolves v West Ham

Wolves are without defender Christophe Berra, striker Chris Iwelumo and winger Michael Kightly. Berra is sidelined by a hamstring strain suffered during Scotland’s defeat in Norway, so on-loan Michael Mancienne should come in. Iwelumo and Kightly are still recovering from foot injuries.

Carlton Cole is West Ham’s only fit senior striker, but should get support from Luis Jimenez and Kieron Dyer who are set for attacking wide roles. West Ham are without long-term absentees Dean Ashton (ankle), Luis Boa Morte (Knee) and Valon Behrami (ankle). Danny Gabbidon could make his first Premier League appearance in 18 months after recovering from abdominal and back injuries, and Fabio Daprela could make his debut at right-back.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Wolves W W W D W; West Ham L W L L W
Match odds: H 11-8 A 13-8 D 21-10
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Sunday, August 16th

Manchester United v Birmingham

United’s Wes Brown is expected to start after recovering from a thigh injury but Jonny Evans (ankle) is likely to join Nemanja Vidic (calf) and Gary Neville (groin) on the sidelines. Ben Foster is fit and seems certain to pip Tomasz Kuszczak for the goalkeeping slot. Antonio Valencia and Michael Owen could make their league debuts.

Defenders Liam Ridgewell, Martin Taylor, Scott Dann, Giovanny Espinoza and David Murphy are unavailable for Blues, midfielder Lee Bowyer is banned, while striker Marcus Bent is sidelined by a hamstring problem. But new signings Joe Hart, Roger Johnson, Gregory Vignal and Barry Ferguson will all make their debuts and striker Christian Benitez could be on the bench as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W D W; Birmingham D D W L W
Match odds: H 1-6 A 11-1 D 9-2
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Tottenham v Liverpool

Centre-back Sebastien Bassong is set to make his Tottenham debut as Jonathan Woodgate is recovering from groin surgery and Michael Dawson is ruled out with an Achilles injury. Gareth Bale (knee) is also sidelined and Jermaine Jenas (calf) is doubtful.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will monitor Steven Gerrard’s fitness — the midfielder sat out England’s draw against Holland in midweek after suffering a groin injury. Central defenders Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel could figure after ankle and hamstring problems respectively. Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio and new signing Alberto Aquilani are sidelined through injury.

Last season: Liverpool 3 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 2 Liverpool 1
Last five league matches: Tottenham L W D W L; Liverpool W W W W W
Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-10 D 11-5
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).