Premier League team news
All the latest team news ahead of the weekend Premier League programme
SATURDAY
Arsenal (7) v Newcastle (15)
Striker Olivier Giroud and midfielder Tomas Rosicky have both recovered from illness and are available for the Gunners. Defender Andre Santos (stomach muscle) and midfielder Abou Diaby (thigh) are expected to return to training next week, while back-up goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is out with a foot injury.
Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote returns from a one-match ban and should come straight in for Vurnon Anita, who suffered an ankle injury in the 4-3 defeat to Manchester United. Centre half Mike Williamson is suspended after collecting his fifth booking of the season and Jonas Gutierrez (knee) misses out.
Last season:Arsenal 2 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 0 Arsenal 0
Last five league matches:Arsenal D L W W W; Newcastle W L L W L
Top scorers (all competitions):Theo Walcott (Arsenal) 11; Demba Ba (Newcastle) 11
Match odds:H 4-9 A 6-1 D 10-3
Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Aston Villa (16) v Wigan (18)
Defender Nathan Baker is the latest Villa player to sustain injury after he picked up a hamstring problem on St Stephen’s Day. Baker joins captain Ron Vlaar (calf), Gabriel Agbonlahor (thigh), Charles N’Zogbia (knee), Darren Bent (hamstring), Richard Dunne (groin) and Andreas Weimann (calf) on the sidelines.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is considering making changes at Villa Park, with Franco di Santo among those angling for a recall. The game might is likely to come too soon for defender Ivan Ramis, who is still to make an appearance after suffering a hamstring injury at the end of last month.
Last season:Wigan 0 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 2 Wigan 0
Last five league matches:Aston Villa D D W L L; Wigan L D L L L
Top scorers (all competitions):Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 11; Arouna Kone & Jordi Gomez (Wigan) 5
Match odds:H 13-10 A 23-10 D 21-10
Referee:Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Fulham (14) v Swansea (9)
Fulham’s Bryan Ruiz has been passed fit to start against the Swans. The Costa Rica international made his return from a hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw with
Southampton, playing the second half on St Stephen’s Day. Mahamadou Diarra and Mladen Petric are doubts, while Damien Duff could miss out again.
Top scorer Michu will miss the journey due to the ankle injury he suffered in the St Stephen’s Day draw at Reading. Danny Graham, Itay Shechter and Luke Moore will compete for his place in attack. Winger Pablo Hernandez and full-back Angel Rangel are set to return from thigh and ankle problems respectively.
Last season:Fulham 0 Swansea 3, Swansea 2 Fulham 0
Last five league matches:Fulham L W L L D; Swansea W L L D D
Top scorers (all competitions):Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham) 6; Michu (Swansea) 14
Match odds:H 6-5 A 12-5 D 11-5
Referee:Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
Manchester United (1) v West Brom (6)
Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck could both be back to bolster Manchester United’s attacking options after the pair missed the St Stephen’s Day win over
Newcastle with minor ailments. Shinji Kagawa (knee) may also be involved for the first time since October, but Wayne Rooney (knee) and Phil Jones miss out and veterans Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are expected to be rested.
West Brom have doubts over defenders Jonas Olsson (groin) and Goran Popov (hamstring) as well as midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu (hamstring) after a bruising St Stephen’s Day win at QPR. Claudio Yacob (hamstring) remains sidelined and as a result Albion have recalled George Thorne from a loan spell at Peterborough.
