Birmingham are without Martin Grainger, who picked up a calf injury against Middlesbrough but then also suffered a knee problem - which will require surgery - while undergoing rehabilitation work. Darren Carter, Curtis Woodhouse and Darryl Powell, recently signed on a short-term contract, are in contention to deputise.
Saturday: Birmingham (12) v Newcastle (15)
Newcastle are without Craig Bellamy, who has suffered a reaction to the knee injury sustained during the Champions League defeat against Feyenoord. Clarence Acuna (thigh) and striker Carl Cort (knee) are back in training but the game comes too soon for either.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Birmingham D W D W L Newcastle L D L L W
Top scorers: Clinton Morrison (Birmingham) 3; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 4
Match odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 11-5
Referee: S Bennett (Kent)
Bolton (17) v Southampton (18)
Jay-Jay Okocha and Stig Tofting are pushing for places in the Bolton starting line-up as manager Sam Allardyce is short of numbers in midfield with Kevin Nolan and Ricardo Gardner sidelined by injuries.
Saints boss Gordon Strachan is ready to recall striker Brett Ormerod as he looks for his first away win of the season. Ormerod is expected to partner Latvia international Marian Pahars in attack after scoring a hat-trick in the reserves' midweek win over Wimbledon.
Last season: Southampton 0 Bolton 0, Bolton 0 Southampton 1
Last five league matches: Bolton L W W L L Southampton D L W L D
Top scorers: Michael Ricketts (Bolton) 2; Fabrice Fernandes, Marian Pahars (Southampton) 1
Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-5 D 11-5
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire)
Charlton (16) v Man Utd (8)
Robbie Mustoe is set for his Charlton debut having signed on a short-term deal a month ago. Jesper Blomqvist will also be hoping to be involved against his former club. South African striker Shaun Bartlett is likely to start up front.
Midfielder Scott Parker (ankle) is back in training but will need to play a reserve match before returning, according to Curbishley, while defender Gary Rowett (back) is still out.
Juan Sebastian Veron (flu-like symptoms) and Mikael Silvestre (knee) both miss out for Manchester United but Paul Scholes could be in line for a return, while Rio Ferdinand (knee) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (hamstring) have reported fit.
Last season: Man Utd 0 Charlton 0, Charlton 0 Man Utd 2
Last five league matches: Charlton L W L L D Man Utd D W L L W
Top scorers: Chris Bart-Williams, Jason Euell, Jon Fortune, Claus Jensen, Paul Konchesky, Richard Rufus (Charlton) 1; Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 7
Match odds: H 7-2 A 4-6 D 23-10
Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire)
Chelsea (3) v West Ham (20)
Defender John Terry is in line to make his first Chelsea appearance of the season following his highly-publicised court case. Marcel Desailly (calf) is rated only 50-50, but Emmanuel Petit, Graeme Le Saux and Celestine Babayaro are all definitely out with calf injury.
West Ham manager Glenn Roeder must decide whether to recall under-fire England midfielder Michael Carrick for the trip to Chelsea tomorrow. Roeder dropped Carrick to the substitutes' bench for the Hammers' last two games after he was barracked by supporters.
Last season: Chelsea 5 West Ham 1, West Ham 2 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Chelsea D D W W D West Ham D L L L D
Top scorers: Gianfranco Zola (Chelsea) 5; Frederic Kanoute (West Ham) 2
Match odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 23-10
Referee: M Dean (Wirral)
Everton (13) v Fulham (6)
Everton could give Nigerian World Cup star Joseph Yobo his first-team debut after the defender successfully completed a reserve game in midweek as he recovers from his second ankle injury since joining in the summer. But full-back Steve Watson, who suffered a groin strain in that second team outing against Manchester City, faces another spell on the sidelines.
Fulham's Louis Saha (hamstring) is sidelined for three weeks. Steve Finnan, who was scheduled to make his comeback from a knee injury in Monday's 0-0 draw with Chelsea before it was shelved at the last minute, could feature.
Last season: Everton 2 Fulham 1, Fulham 2 Everton 0
Last five league matches: Everton D L L W L Fulham D L W W D
Top scorers: Kevin Campbell (Everton) 4; Junichi Inamoto (Fulham) 6
Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 21-10
Referee: S Dunn (Avon)
Leeds (5) v Arsenal (1)
Leeds skipper Dominic Matteo (knee) is again doubtful while Jonathan Woodgate sustained a hamstring strain in training earlier this week. However, striker Alan Smith (ankle) and winger Harry Kewell (sickness) are fit.
Dennis Bergkamp has been ruled out of Arsenal's next three games after sustaining an Achilles injury during the Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven. Arsenal are also without Martin Keown (hamstring), meaning Pascal Cygan will make his full debut in defence.
Last season: Leeds 1 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 1 Leeds 2
Last five league matches: Leeds L L W W L Arsenal W D W W W
Top scorers: Mark Viduka (Leeds) 3; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 7
Match odds: H 11-5 A 1-1 D 11-5
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire)
Man City (14) v Liverpool (2)
Algerian midfielder Karim Kerkar and Cameroon defender Lucien Mettomo come in to cover for suspended Manchester City skipper Ali Benarbia and Danny Tiatto, who has picked up a mystery injury in training. Shaun Goater is in contention after overcoming a groin strain while Kevin Horlock is likely to replace Benarbia.
Liverpool could be without Stephane Henchoz, who picked up a hamstring injury against Basle in the Champions League. Dietmar Hamann is back from suspension.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Man City L W L D D Liverpool D D D W W
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 4; Milan Baros (Liverpool) 4
Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-10 D 11-5
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset)
Sunderland (19) v Aston Villa (10)
Sunderland skipper Michael Gray (calf) and fellow defender Joachim Bjorklund (hamstring) are major doubts. Jason McAteer (stomach), Kevin Phillips (hernia), Emerson Thome (knee) and Nicolas Medina (medial ligament) are all out. Jody Craddock, Darren Williams and George McCartney will come into contention for places at the back.
Mark Delaney is included in the Villa squad after recovering from a leg injury which had ruled him out of the last three matches. Dion Dublin is pushing for a place in the starting line-up after scoring the winner against Everton.
Last season: Sunderland 1 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Sunderland W D L L L Aston Villa W L W L W
Top scorers: Tore Andre Flo, Jason McAteer (Sunderland) 1; Lee Hendrie (Aston Villa) 2
Match odds: H 7-5 A 8-5 D 21-10
Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire)
Tottenham (4) v Middlesbrough (7)
Tottenham's Christian Ziege is set to return from a calf strain against his former club after a flying visit to consult his doctor in Germany. More good news for Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle is that Stephen Carr and Gustavo Poyet are back in training after long-term absences while Steffen Freund and Sergei Rebrov successfully came through a midweek reserve game.
Skipper Gareth Southgate has recovered from a back injury and returns. Croatia international Alen Boksic could start a game for the first time in a month with Slovakia international striker Szilard Nemeth struggling with a hamstring injury.
Last season: Middlesbrough 1 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 2 Middlesbrough 1
Last five league matches: Tottenham W W L W L Middlesbrough W L W L W
Top scorers: Teddy Sheringham (Tottenham) 3; Massimo Maccarone, Szilard Nemeth (Middlesbrough) 3
Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire)
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