Monday's Premier League team news

Tottenham v West Ham 12.45 (Live Sky Sports 1)
Spurs defender Ledley King could start after he made a late appearance as a substitute in the goalless draw with Fulham following his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Sebastien Bassong, the player King replaced, should be given the all-clear after taking a kick to the head.

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble is a major doubt after suffering a hamstring injury in the victory over Portsmouth.

Valon Behrami is available to step in after making his comeback from a knee complaint off the bench against Pompey but Danny Gabbidon missed the match with a hamstring problem.

Striker Carlton Cole (knee) and forward Kieron Dyer (hamstring) are both still sidelined.

Blackburn v Sunderland 15.00
Rovers midfielder Brett Emerton could return from a groin injury to feature at Ewood Park.

The Australia international sat out of the draw at Wigan but manager Sam Allardyce is hopeful Emerton will be fit for the visit of the Black Cats.

Allardyce may decide to change things up front as on-loan Chelsea striker Franco Di Santo, with one goal all season and none in his last nine appearances, was a virtual spectator against the Latics.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is facing a fresh injury crisis after central defender John Mensah, who is due to head off to the African Nations Cup with Ghana after the game at Ewood Park, limped out of Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Everton after damaging his hamstring.

With Michael Turner serving the second instalment of his four-match ban and Anton Ferdinand (ankle) still sidelined, Bruce has big decisions to make at the heart of his defence.

Midfielder Lee Cattermole missed the Everton game after tweaking his hamstring in training on Christmas Day and remains a doubt, while Kieran Richardson was also unavailable with a calf injury.

Striker Kenwyne Jones ended Saturday’s game with a calf problem, and will be assessed today, while keeper Craig Gordon (broken arm) remains on the sidelines.

Chelsea v Fulham 15.00
Carlo Ancelotti has been boosted by the availability of African trio Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel for the visit of Fulham.

Ancelotti had expected to be without all three as they prepare for the impending African Nations Cup but the Blues have managed to secure an agreement with their national teams to delay their departures until Tuesday.

Chelsea will still be without Nicolas Anelka (muscular), Michael Essien (hamstring) and Jose Bosingwa (knee) while Florent Malouda serves a one-game ban.

Fulham defender Brede Hangeland could miss the game after he sustained a knee injury while warming up for the goalless draw with Tottenham on St Stephen’s Day.

While he completed the match, he is a doubt for the west London derby at Stamford Bridge.

Right back John Pantsil will play his last game for Fulham before departing for the African Nations Cup while Andy Johnson could feature after recovering from his groin injury.

Everton v Burnley 15.00
Everton midfielder Phil Neville could have his first taste of action since September against Burnley.

The 32-year-old was a surprise inclusion on the bench for Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Sunderland after just one day’s training on his return from a long-standing knee injury, although he was unused.

Manager still David Moyes awaits the impending returns of Sylvain Distin and Joseph Yobo.

Burnley manager Owen Coyle will monitor the fitness of centre backs Steven Caldwell and Clarke Carlisle after both players were forced to miss the 1-1 draw with Bolton because of groin problems.

Coyle could freshen things up as his side bid for their first league win on the road this season.

Stoke City v Birmingham 15.00
Midfield duo Glenn Whelan and Salif Diao will both miss the encounter at the Britannia Stadium.

The pair both picked up their fifth bookings of the season in the 2-0 defeat at Manchester City and now serve automatic one-match bans.

In addition, Andy Wilkinson and Robert Huth (knee) picked up knocks, which makes them doubtful for Tony Pulis’ side, who have collected just a single point from four games this month so far.

Birmingham will assess the fitness of midfielder Sebastian Larsson after the Sweden international rolled his ankle in the goalless draw with Chelsea.

Boss Alex McLeish expects Joe Hart to be available despite the goalkeeper suffering a head injury in the same match.

Lee Bowyer also suffered a knock against the league leaders but defenders Roger Johnson and Liam Ridgewell appeared to come through unscathed after returning from injury.

Wolves v Man City 19.45 (Live on Sky Sports 1)
Mick McCarthy may have to shuffle his pack for the clash because of the demands of playing with 10 men at Anfield on St Stephen's Day.

McCarthy will definitely be without former Bohemians defender Stephen Ward, who was sent off in that 2-0 defeat by Liverpool, with McCarthy needing now to assess the rest of his squad following the extra physical demands at Anfield.

Wolves will still have Michael Kightly, David Edwards and Andy Keogh out with ankle injuries.

Craig Bellamy is set to start his first game under Roberto Mancini as Manchester City bid for a third straight win.

Bellamy was introduced off the bench in the victory over Stoke but, having impressed in his cameo appearance, should keep his place.

Shaun Wright-Phillips has an outside chance of recovering from an ankle injury but Roque Santa Cruz, Benjani and Emmanuel Adebayor, who is leaving for African Nations Cup duty with Togo, are all out.