Premier League weekend team news

Soccer:All the team news and injury updates as the Premier League returns after the international break.

Saturday
Norwich (9) v Arsenal (7), 12.45pm – Live on Sky Sports 2.
Norwich expect to have both midfielder Bradley Johnson (concussion) and defender Russell Martin (ankle) available. Martin was forced to pull out of the Scotland squad for their friendly in Cyprus, but has recovered.

Arsenal will be without full backs Kieran Gibbs (hernia) and Carl Jenkinson (back). Midfielder Ryo Miyaichi (ankle) is also unavailable but striker Marouane Chamakh (knee) is in contention.

Last season:No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Norwich LWDDL; Arsenal LWWWW.
Top scorers – Norwich:Anthony Pilkington 4. Arsenal:Robin van Persie 13.
Match odds:H 7-2 A 7-10 D 3-1.
Referee:Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Manchester City (1) v Newcastle (3), 3.0pm – Live on Setanta Ireland.
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will be monitored but a groin injury aggravated on international duty is not thought serious. Midfielder Owen Hargreaves has recovered from a minor calf problem but will not be considered due to a lack of match fitness. Captain Vincent Kompany returns from suspension but Carlos Tevez, still absent without permission, is out of contention.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will once again be without key midfielder Cheik Tiote (knee). French midfielder Sylvain Marveaux is expected to be sidelined for an extended period as he prepares to undergo groin surgery. Leon Best (groin) and Gabriel Obertan (infected toe) are also doubts but striker Shola Ameobi should be available after shaking off a hamstring injury.

Last season:Newcastle 1, Man City 3; Man City 2, Newcastle 1.
Last five league matches:Man City WWWWW; Newcastle WDWWW.
Top scorers – Man City:Edin Dzeko 13. Newcastle:Demba Ba 8.
Match odds:H 3-10 A 17-2 D 9-2.
Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Everton (17) v Wolves (13), 3.0pm.
Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini returns after serving a one-match suspension. Defender Phil Jagielka will play in spite of a broken toe while Tim Cahill is pushing for a start after coming off the bench at Newcastle following his injury problems. Captain Phil Neville came off with another hamstring injury in that match but has had a fortnight to try to regain his fitness.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has almost a full squad at his disposal. Right back Kevin Foley is the only player unavailable as he continues rehabilitation work on his injured ankle with central defender Jody Craddock having recovered from illness. The Republic of Ireland trio of Kevin Doyle, Stephen Ward and Stephen Hunt are available after coming through the Euro 2012 play-off triumph over Estonia unscathed.

Last season:Wolverhampton 0, Everton 3; Everton 1, Wolverhampton 1.
Last five league matches:Everton LLWLL; Wolverhampton LLDLW.
Top scorers – Everton:Apostolos Vellios, Louis Saha, Jack Rodwell and Royston Drenthe 2 each. Wolves:Steven Fletcher and Jamie O'Hara 3 each.
Match odds:H 8-13 A 9-2 D 14-5.
Referee:Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).

Stoke (12) v QPR (11), 3.0pm.
Stoke trio Ryan Shawcross, Marc Wilson (both muscle strains) and Matthew Etherington (back) could all return to the Potters team after missing the 5-0 defeat at Bolton on November 6th through injury.

QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt is not expected to feature after spending the week with Morocco on international duty. Midfielder Akos Buzsaky is available while Bradley Orr and defender Matt Connolly are close to a return from injury and could feature.

Last season:No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches:Stoke LWLLL; QPR LDWLL.
Top scorers - Stoke:Jonathan Walters and Kenwyne Jones 5. QPR:Heidar Helguson 3.
Match odds:H 3-4 A 15-4 D 13-5.
Referee:Mike Jones (Cheshire).

Sunderland (15) v Fulham (16), 3.0pm.
Sunderland will be without midfielder Sebastian Larsson who is banned after picking up five bookings for the season. Defender Titus Bramble, who was expected to play for the reserves in midweek after being fined for bringing the club into disrepute, has a knee problem and is unavailable.

Fulham will be without Stephen Kelly after he suffered a groin injury on Republic of Ireland duty last week and joins fellow defenders Aaron Hughes (thigh) and Zdenek Grygera (cruciate) on the sidelines. Midfielder Steve Sidwell is recovering from a minor hernia operation and will be handed a late fitness test.

Last season:Sunderland 0, Fulham 3; Fulham 0, Sunderland 0.
Last five league matches:Sunderland DLWDL; Fulham WLLWL.
Top scorers – Sunderland:Sebastian Larsson 3. Fulham:Andrew Johnson 11.
Match odds:H 11-8 A 2-1 D 9-4.
Referee:Andy Taylor (Gravesend).

West Brom (14) v Bolton (18), 3.0pm.
West Brom striker Shane Long is unlikely to have recovered from the knee injury which forced him to miss the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 play-off success over Estonia. Midfielder Paul Scharner (knee) and Peter Odemwingie (ankle) are also doubtful.

Bolton boss Owen Coyle will give 20-year-old Joe Riley his second Premier League run-out. Ricardo Gardner misses out after picking up a knock while Marcos Alonso (foot) and Dedryck Boyata (ankle) are closing in on returns but tomorrow’s game comes too early.

Last season:Bolton 2, West Brom 0; West Brom 1, Bolton 1.
Last five league matches:West Brom DWWLL; Bolton LWLW.
Top scorers – West Brom:Shane Long 3. Bolton: Ivan Klasnic 5.
Match odds:H 19-20 A 13-5 D 11-4.
Referee:Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).

Wigan (20) v Blackburn (19), 3.0pm.
Wigan defender Antolin Alcaraz misses out as he begins a three-match ban for spitting at Wolves' Richard Stearman during the Latics' loss at Molineux a fortnight ago. Captain Gary Caldwell returns from his suspension.

Chris Samba is touch and go for Blackburn. The Congo defender has been back in training this week after a hamstring injury, but both Scott Dann and Michel Salgado are ready to return to the Rovers defence after spells on the sidelines.

Last season:Wigan 4, Blackburn 3; Blackburn 2, Wigan 1.
Last five league matches:Wigan LLLLL; Blackburn LDLDL.
Top scorers – Wigan:Ben Watson and Franco Di Santo 3. Blackburn:Ruben Rochina 5.
Match odds:H 29-20 A 19-10 D 23-10.
Referee:Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Swansea (10) v Manchester United (2), 5.30pm – Live on ESPN.
Swansea winger Scott Sinclair could return after recovering from a tight hamstring but Wayne Routledge impressed in his place. Left back Neil Taylor is fit after suffering an ankle injury at Anfield but centre half Steven Caulker (knee) is still recovering. Kemy Agustien is again in contention after returning from a hamstring problem, while fellow midfielder Stephen Dobbie is hoping for a place on the bench after overcoming an ankle injury.

Manchester United forward Ashley Young will return from a toe injury. Tom Cleverley (ankle) and Michael Owen (thigh) have both been ruled out until Christmas, Danny Welbeck has not recovered from the muscle strain he suffered on international duty, while Chris Smalling (foot) is unlikely to return until Tuesday’s Champions League encounter with Benfica.

Last season:No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches:Swansea WLDWD; Man Utd WDLWW.
Top scorers – Swansea:Danny Graham 4. Man Utd: Wayne Rooney 12.
Match odds:H 5-1 A 3-1 D 11-20.
Referee:Mike Dean (Wirral).

Sunday

Chelsea (4) v Liverpool (6), 4.0pm – Live on Sky Sports 1.
Andre Villas-Boas was expecting everyone but Michael Essien to be fit. Daniel Sturridge was set to shake off a knock picked up yesterday that caused him to miss training this morning, while fellow striker Didier Drogba has recovered from the arm surgery he underwent while suspended prior to the international break. Goalkeeper Hilario is back from a bout of flu, while Essien is on course to return from knee surgery at the turn of the year.

Defender Jamie Carragher is in contention for Liverpool having missed the last two matches with a calf injury. Striker Luis Suarez is expected to keep his place in the starting line-up after being rested for Uruguay’s friendly win over Italy in midweek as a precautionary measure after a minor back problem.

Last season: Chelsea 0, Liverpool 1; Liverpool 2, Chelsea 0.
Last five league matches:Chelsea WW LLW; Liverpool WDDWD.
Top scorers - Chelsea:Frank Lampard 7. Liverpool:Luis Suarez 7.
Match odds:H 4-5 A 16-5 D 11-4.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Monday

Tottenham (5) v Aston Villa (8), 8.0pm – Live on Sky Sports 1.
Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart could recover from a hamstring injury picked up playing for the Netherlands. Vedran Corluka is expected to overcome his ankle problem, but Michael Dawson (Achilles) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) remain out.

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is battling to shake off the hamstring injury suffered on England duty. Stiliyan Petrov is hoping to have recovered from the hamstring injury he sustained against Norwich prior to the international break. On-loan Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas, who made his Villa debut as a substitute against the Canaries, is ineligible to face his parent club.

Last season:Aston Villa 1, Tottenham 2; Tottenham 2, Aston Villa 1.
Last five league matches:Tottenham WDWWW; Aston Villa WLLDW.
Top scorers - Totenham:Rafael Van der Vaart 7. Aston Villa:Darren Bent and Gabriel Agbonlahor 5.
Match odds:H 11-20 A 9-2 D 10-3.
Referee:Mark Halsey (Lancashire).