English premiership

English Premiership matches this weekend

West Brom (12)

v

Newcastle United (9)

CHRIS BRUNT (groin), Peter Odemwingie (knee), James Morrison (back), Paul Scharner (knee) and Nicky Shorey (illness) will all be assessed by West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo ahead of the visit of Newcastle. Newcastle welcome back midfielder Joey Barton following the completion of his three-match ban for punching Blackburn’s Morten Gamst Pedersen. Captain Kevin Nolan is also out with an ankle problem.Striker Leon Best (ankle) is closing in on a return to action.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: West Brom LDLLW; Newcastle WLDLD.

Top scorers: Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 4; Andy Carroll (Newcastle) 9.

Match odds: H 6-5 A 11-5 D 12-5.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Sunderland (7)

v

West Ham United (20)

SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce will be able to call on defender John Mensah again. He returned ahead of schedule from a dislocated shoulder at Wolves last week but was forced off eight minutes from time after receiving a blow to the joint. Midfielder David Meyler is in contention for the first time this season after recovering from a serious knee injury.

West Ham captain Scott Parker will return from a chest infection which kept him on the bench for the midweek. Avram Grant must decide whether to retain Parker’s goalscoring replacement against United, Jonathan Spector.

Last season: West Ham 1, Sunderland 0; Sunderland 2, West Ham 2.

Last five league matches: Sunderland WDWDL; West Ham DDDLW.

Top scorers: Darren Bent (Sunderland) 9; Scott Parker (West Ham) 6.

Match odds: H 10-11 A 3-1 D 5-2.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Wigan Athletic (18)

v

Stoke City (8)

WIGAN’S Victor Moses is likely to be out for three months after dislocating his shoulder in the League Cup loss to Arsenal on Tuesday. Club captain Gary Caldwell (thigh) could be fit but fellow defender Emmerson Boyce (hamstring) is unlikely to feature.

Stoke’s Jermaine Pennant and Andy Wilkinson had to come off during last week’s draw with Manchester City due to hamstring and knee problems respectively and will both undergo late fitness tests.

Last season: Wigan 1, Stoke 1; Stoke 2, Wigan 2.

Last five league matches: Wigan LDWLL; Stoke LWWWD.

Top scorers: Charles N’Zogbia Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 4; Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 6.

Match odds: H 7-4 A 7-4 D 2-1.

Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire).

Manchester City (4)

v

Bolton Wanderers (6)

MANCHESTER City midfielder Yaya Toure is expected to return to the squad following a migraine. Manager Roberto Mancini looks likely to shuffle his pack again following the Europa League victory over Salzburg, when he made eight changes from the side that drew with Stoke. Bolton manager Owen Coyle will monitor the fitness of midfielder Stuart Holden. The American only returned to training on Thursday after sitting out the draw with Blackpool because of a thigh strain.

Last season: Man City 2, Bolton 0; Bolton 3, Man City 3.

Last five league matches: Man City WDDWD; Bolton WDWWD.

Top scorers (all competitions): Carlos Tevez (Man City) 9; Johan Elmander (Bolton) 8.

Match odds: H 11-20 A 5-1 D 3-1.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Weekend’s Previews

Arsenal (3)

v

Fulham (17)

CESC Fabregas will be out for another fortnight with the hamstring injury he picked up against Braga in the Champions League. Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia suffered a setback to his elbow injury in training and also misses out but Samir Nasri and Sebastien Squillaci have recovered from knee injuries. Andrew Johnson is set to return to the Fulham squad having sat out last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Birmingham with a hamstring strain. Bobby Zamora, Rafik Halliche (thigh) and Philippe Senderos (Achilles) are out.

Last season: Arsenal 4, Fulham 0; Fulham 0, Arsenal 1.

Last five league matches: Arsenal LWWLW; Fulham DLDLD.

Top scorers (all competitions): Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal) 10; Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 6.

Match odds: H 2-7 A 9-1 D 9-2

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Chelsea (2)

v

Everton (16)

CHELSEA have captain John Terry back after three weeks on the sidelines with a sciatic nerve problem in his right leg. Ghana midfielder Michael Essien is also back after suspension and toe problems. Everton defender Phil Jagielka is a doubt after the centre-back sustained a knock in last week’s defeat to West Brom. Captain Phil Neville has recovered from a sore knee and although midfielder Marouane Fellaini returns after suspension, Mikel Arteta begins a three-match ban for his sending-off last weekend.

Last season: Everton 2, Chelsea 1; Chelsea 3, Everton 3.

Last five league matches: Chelsea LWLLD; Everton DDLDL.

Top scorers (all competitions): Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 10; Tim Cahill (Everton) 8.

Match odds: H 4-11 A 15-2 D 15-4.

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Blackburn Rovers (13)

v

Wolverhampton (19)

MIDFIELDER Morten Gamst Pedersen makes a welcome return having missed last week’s 7-1 thrashing at Manchester United with a hamstring injury. On-loan Mame Biram Diouf is also free to return after being forbidden from playing against his parent club last weekend. Keith Andrews is out with a groin injury. Christophe Berra is available again for Wolves after suspension but Dave Edwards (thigh) and Karl Henry (knee) remain sidelined.

Last season: Wolves 1, Blackburn 1; Blackburn 3, Wolves 1.

Last five league matches: Blackburn WWLWL; Wolves LLLLW.

Top scorers (all competitions): Mame Biram Diouf Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn) 4; Sylvan Ebanks-Blake Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 4.

Match odds: H 3-4 A 15-4 D 13-5.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Birmingham City (14)

v

Tottenham Hotspur (5)

BIRMINGHAM will be without Alexander Hleb for up to three weeks with a calf strain.

Michael Dawson returns to the Tottenham squad for the first time since August after recovering from the ligament damage. His return is a boost, with Younes Kaboul (hip) sidelined, while Rafael van der Vaart (hamstring) and Jermaine Jenas (calf) are also out. Ledley King (groin), Jamie O’Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) are longer-term absentees.

Last season: Birmingham 1, Tottenham 1; Tottenham 2, Birmingham 1.

Last five league matches: Birmingham DLDWD; Tottenham LDWWW.

Top scorers (all competitions): Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 4; Gareth Bale (Tottenham) 9.

Match odds: H 12-5 A 23-20 D 23-10.

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).