Premier League team news

All the latest team news ahead of the weekend’s Premier League programme

SATURDAY

Arsenal (10) v West Brom (5)
Arsenal will be without forwards Lukas Podolski (hamstring) and Theo Walcott (calf) against West Brom. Defender Bacary Sagna (foot) is a major doubt, but Laurent Koscielny (thigh) is definitely out. Full back Andre Santos (stomach muscle) and midfielder Abou Diaby (thigh) continue their rehabilitation.

West Brom head coach Steve Clarke has virtually a full squad to choose from with goalkeeper Ben Foster the only absentee as he continues his rehabilitation after a second groin operation. Boaz Myhill again deputises. Clarke has to decide whether to recall the likes of striker Peter Odemwingie and midfielders James Morrison and skipper Chris Brunt, who were rested for last weekend’s encounter with Stoke.

Last season:West Brom 2 Arsenal 3, Arsenal 3 West Brom 0
Last five league matches:Arsenal D W D D L; West Brom W W W L L
Top scorers (all competitions):Theo Walcott (Arsenal) 10; Shane Long (West Brom) 7
Match odds:H 1-2 A 5-1 D 3-1
Referee:Mike Jones (Cheshire)

Aston Villa (15) v Stoke (9)
Aston Villa winger Charles N'Zogbia has returned to training after a six-week absence with a knee problem but may not feature against Stoke. Skipper and

centre back Ron Vlaar remains a major doubt with a calf problem which ruled him out of the last two games with Reading and QPR. Left backs Enda Stevens (ankle) and Joe Bennett (knee) are still sidelined.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is hopeful striker Peter Crouch will be able to return. Crouch, who missed last weekend’s 1-0 victory at West Brom having lost some teeth in a collision with Newcastle’s Fabricio Coloccini in the previous match, has had a mouthguard fitted and is being monitored in training. Pulis is also optimistic Cameron Jerome will be fit after an ankle injury. The Potters will definitely be without midfielders Charlie Adam (suspension) and Rory Delap (hernia), along with defender Marc Wilson (broken leg).

Last season:Aston Villa 1 Stoke 1, Stoke 0 Aston Villa 0
Last five league matches:Aston Villa L L D W D; Stoke W D W W W
Top scorers (all competitions):Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 8; Peter Crouch (Stoke) 5
Match odds:H 11-8 A 2-1 D 21-10
Referee:Roger East (Wiltshire)

Southampton (18) v Reading (19)
Gaston Ramirez will be available to face Reading despite spending the week in Uruguay. The 22-year-old returned to his homeland last Sunday on compassionate leave but will be in the squad to face the Royals. Richard Chaplow and Frazer Richardson are back in training after injury, although the latter is not yet ready for a first-team return.

Reading striker Pavel Pogrebnyak is a doubt after sustaining an unspecified injury while on reserves duty. Danny Guthrie should return from a thigh problem, but his fellow midfielders Jimmy Kebe (groin) and Jem Karacan (knee) are definitely out. Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has undergone shoulder surgery, but manager Brian McDermott is refusing to set a date for his return.

Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Southampton D W W D L; Reading D W L L L
Top scorers (all competitions):Rickie Lambert (Southampton) 6; Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading) 5
Match odds:H 19-20 A 13-5 D 5-2
Referee:Jon Moss (W Yorkshire)

Sunderland (17) v Chelsea (3)
Defender John O'Shea and striker Steven Fletcher are both in contention to face Chelsea. O'Shea is the more likely to feature having trained this week following a calf injury, while leading scorer Fletcher will be assessed after being forced off at half-time in last weekend's defeat by Norwich with an ankle problem. Captain Lee Cattermole is expected to be out for another two months after damaging knee ligaments.

Midfielder Frank Lampard will return from his calf injury at the Stadium of Light. Defender John Terry and striker Daniel Sturridge are still sidelined with knee and hamstring problems respectively. Midfielder John Obi Mikel begins a three-game ban.

Last season:Chelsea 1 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 1 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches:Sunderland L W L D L; Chelsea D L D D L
Top scorers (all competitions):Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) 6; Juan Mata & Fernando Torres (Chelsea) 9
Match odds:H 7-2 A 3-4 D 5-2
Referee:Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

Swansea (7) v Norwich (12)
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup will not rush Michel Vorm and Pablo Hernandez back into his starting line-up against Norwich. Goalkeeper Vorm is back in training following a groin injury but is not ready to return, while Hernandez is still struggling with a thigh problem. Wayne Routledge could return from an ankle knock which may see top scorer Michu again moved up front.

Norwich defender Sebastien Bassong will be fit to face Swansea. The 26-year-old looked to be struggling towards the end of the 2-1 win over Sunderland, but manager Chris Hughton has revealed the centre half is available for selection.

Goalkeeper John Ruddy has undergone a thigh operation and faces up to three months out, while defender Michael Turner (shoulder) and on-loan striker Harry Kane (metatarsal) are also missing.

Last season:Swansea 2 Norwich 3, Norwich 3 Swansea 1
Last five league matches:Swansea D W D W W; Norwich D W D D W
Top scorers (all competitions):Miguel Michu (Swansea) 11; Grant Holt (Norwich) 3
Match odds:H 4-5 A 16-5 D 5-2
Referee:Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

Wigan (16) v QPR (20)
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is set to be without four central defenders against QPR. Antolin Alcaraz (groin) and Ivan Ramis (hamstring) are injured while captain Gary Caldwell and Maynor Figueroa are both suspended after the Football Association rejected Wigan's appeal against the latter's red card in Monday's 3-0 defeat to Newcastle. Midfielder Ben Watson (broken leg), wingers Albert Crusat (knee) and Ryo Miyaichi (ankle) and Shaun Maloney (groin) all remain sidelined.

Goalkeeper Julio Cesar is a doubt as he is still struggling with the groin injury he suffered at Sunderland two weeks ago. Stephane Mbia and Samba Diakite have recovered from the neck and ankle injuries they suffered in last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Aston Villa. Long-term absentees Bobby Zamora (hip) and Andrew Johnson (knee) remain sidelined.

Last season:QPR 3 Wigan 1, Wigan 2 QPR 0
Last five league matches:Wigan L L W L L; QPR L L L D D
Top scorers (all competitions):Jordi Gomez (Wigan) 5; Bobby Zamora (QPR) 4
Match odds:H 6-5 A 21-10 D 23-10
Referee:Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

SUNDAY

Everton (6) v Tottenham (4)
Everton could have Kevin Mirallas and Seamus Coleman available to face Tottenham. Toffees boss David Moyes says forward Mirallas, who has missed four games due to a hamstring injury, and Republic of Ireland full back Coleman, sidelined for three by an unspecified problem, have "outside chances" of featuring. Victor Anichebe (hamstring) and Phil Neville (knee) remain on the casualty list.

Tottenham defender Michael Dawson has only a slim chance of recovering from his hamstring injury in time to face Everton. Winger Gareth Bale is out with a hamstring problem while Hugo Lloris is expected to replace Brad Friedel in goal after the American started the Europa League win over Panathinaikos. Midfielder Scott Parker (Achilles) and left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) are a week away from full fitness and defender Younes Kaboul (knee) is also unavailable.

Last season:Everton 1 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 2 Everton 0
Last five league matches:Everton W L D D D; Tottenham L L W W W
Top scorers (all competitions):Marouane Fellaini (Everton) 8; Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 12
Match odds:H 1-1 A 5-2 D 12-5
Referee:Lee Mason (Lancashire)

Man City (2) v Man Utd (1)
David Silva (hamstring) could return for Sunday's derby against Manchester United. Midfielder James Milner (hamstring) and left back Gael Clichy (ankle) are also hoping to prove their fitness while midfielder Yaya Toure returns after his midweek European suspension. Defender Aleksandar Kolarov (ankle) has been ruled out, along with Micah Richards (knee).

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is waiting on the results of a scan on Tom Cleverley’s calf injury before finalising his side. Antonio Valencia (hip) and Nani (hamstring) are definitely out, while Ferguson does not think Shinji Kagawa and skipper Nemanja Vidic (both knee) will be available either. Anderson is also a major doubt with a hamstring injury.

Last season:Man City 1 Man Utd 0, Man Utd 1 Man City 6
Last five league matches:Man City W W D W D; Man Utd W L W W W
Top scorers (all competitions):Carlos Tevez (Man City) 8; Robin van Persie (Man Utd) 13
Match odds:H 5-4 A 15-8 D 5-2
Referee:Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

West Ham (8) v Liverpool (11)
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce will welcome Yossi Benayoun back into his squad. The former Reds midfielder missed the 3-1 win over Chelsea as he was ineligible to appear against his parent club.

Andy Carroll (knee) could be missing for two months, while Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder), Alou Diarra (thigh) and Jack Collison (knee) are all definitely out.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is suspended after accumulating five bookings. Manager Brendan Rodgers has played midfielder Jonjo Shelvey in a ‘false nine’ position before and could do so again with no other senior strikers fit. Captain Steven Gerrard, left out of the Europa League squad on Thursday because of illness, will be restored at Upton Park as will the rested Daniel Agger and Lucas Leiva.

Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:West Ham W D L L W; Liverpool D W D L W
Top scorers (all competitions):Kevin Nolan (West Ham) 5; Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 13
Match odds:H 2-1 A 13-10 D 11-5
Referee:Lee Probert (Wiltshire)

MONDAY

Fulham (13) v Newcastle (14)
Fulham can welcome back captain Brede Hangeland to face Newcastle. The Norway international has been suspended for the past three matches after being sent off against Sunderland and is likely to return in defence, while Alex Kacaniklic is back after a hamstring injury. Bryan Ruiz (hamstring) faces a further month on the sidelines, while right back Sascha Riether has to overcome a minor knee sprain to feature at Craven Cottage.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew could have several of his big guns back from injury. Pardew, who made nine changes for the Europa League defeat in Bordeaux, was expecting full back David Santon (groin), midfielders Cheick Tiote, Hatem Ben Arfa (both hamstring) and Gabriel Obertan (toe) and striker Demba Ba (also hamstring) to train on Friday, while Jonas Gutierrez (knee) is in line to resume on Sunday. That would leave Steven Taylor (hamstring) and Yohan Cabaye (groin surgery) on the long-term casualty list.

Last season:Fulham 5 Newcastle 2, Newcastle 2 Fulham 1
Last five league matches:Fulham D L L D L; Newcastle L L L L W
Top scorers (all competitions):Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham) 5; Demba Ba (Newcastle) 10
Match odds:H 19-20 A 13-5 D 5-2
Referee:Lee Mason (Lancashire)