Weekend Premier League team news

All the latest injury news ahead of the weekend’s Premier League schedule.

Saturday
Blackburn (19) v QPR (16)

Blackburn have Aiyegbeni Yakubu back from a three-match suspension but defender Christopher Samba has been ruled out with a hamstring problem. Gael Givet will serve the first of a three-game ban following his sending off during the 7-1 defeat against Arsenal. Midfielder Jason Lowe could be back in contention after responding well to treatment to an ankle injury he sustained against the Gunners.

QPR striker Djibril Cisse starts a three-match ban after his red card against Wolves last week, while Heidar Helguson (groin), DJ Campbell and Luke Young (both hamstring) also miss out. Jay Bothroyd (groin), Akos Buzsaky (Achilles) and Danny Gabbidon (hip) could all return from injury.

Last season:

No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches:

Blackburn L W D L L; QPR L L W D L

Top scorers (all competitions):

Ayegbeni Yakubu (Blackburn) 13; Heidar Helguson (QPR) 9

Match odds:

H 23-20 A 2-1 D 23-20

Referee:

Mike Dean (Wirral)

Bolton (18) v Wigan (20)

USA centre back Tim Ream could finally make his debut for Bolton. Ream’s move from the New York Red Bulls was confirmed over a fortnight ago and he started training this week after paperwork relating to the deal was completed. He is set to be in the matchday squad along with fellow January recruit Ryo Miyaichi, the Japanese winger who signed on loan from Arsenal. Gretar Steinsson (hamstring) and Joe Riley (groin) may return having missed last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Norwich but another defender Marcos Alonso (foot) remains sidelined.

Wigan are at full strength. Defender Antolin Alcaraz (groin) is back in contention to start after being left on the bench against Everton last week. Midfielder Mohamed Diame could also make his first appearance since returning from the African Nations Cup.

Last season:

Bolton 1 Wigan 1, Wigan 1 Bolton 1

Last five league matches:

Bolton W L W D L; Wigan L L L L D

Top scorers (all competitions):

Marvin Sordell (Bolton) 10; Franco Di Santo, Jordi Gomez & Ben Watson  (Wigan) 4

Match odds:

H 10-11 A 23-10 D 12-5

Referee:

Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

Everton (11) v Chelsea (4)

Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell has suffered a minor setback in his recovery from a hamstring problem and will not be risked. The 20-year-old has struggled with the injury since November and has made only three appearances since then, the last coming a month ago. Phil Jagielka, Leon Osman (both knee) and Seamus Coleman (thigh) are still unavailable.

Midfielders Frank Lampard (calf) and John Obi Mikel (hamstring) are in contention to return for Chelsea and full back Ashley Cole is suspension-free. However, captain John Terry is still not fit from a knee problem and midfielder Ramires (knee) also remains sidelined.

Last season:

Everton 1 Chelsea 0, Chelsea 1 Everton 1

Last five league matches:

Everton L D D W D; Chelsea W W D D D

Top scorers (all competitions):

Nikica Jelavic (Everton) 17; Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 11

Match odds:

H 21-10 A 11-10 D 21-10

Referee:

Mike Jones (Cheshire)

Fulham (14) v Stoke (12)

Recent signing Pavel Pogrebnyak could make his Fulham debut. The Russia international joined from Stuttgart on transfer deadline day and could feature at Craven Cottage, although fellow striker Andrew Johnson will miss out as he continues to recover from a left adductor injury. Philippe Senderos will miss the next couple of weeks after an MRI scan showed he has a grade two strain in his left adductor, while Zdenek Grygera (knee) and Steve Sidwell (hernia) are also unavailable.

Stoke will be without suspended defender Robert Huth, who begins a three-match ban after the Potters’ appeal to the FA against the red card he received in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Sunderland was rejected. Forward Cameron Jerome limped off in that game with a dead leg and midfielder Matthew Etherington missed it due to a virus, but manager Tony Pulis is hopeful both players will be available for the contest at Craven Cottage.

Last season:

Fulham 2 Stoke 0, Stoke 0 Fulham 2

Last five league matches:

Fulham W L W D L; Stoke W D L L L

Top scorers (all competitions):

Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 16; Peter Crouch & Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 8

Match odds:

H 19-20 A 5-2 D 21-10

Referee:

Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Man Utd (2) v Liverpool (7)

Tom Cleverley is expected to play some part for United. Cleverley has been out since October with an ankle injury but has now recovered and is likely to be on the bench. Chris Smalling (knock) is set to return but Phil Jones (ankle) is still missing.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is set to face United for the first time since being banned for eight matches for racially abusing Patrice Evra. The Uruguay international looked sharp on his comeback in a 24-minute substitute appearance in the goalless draw at home to Tottenham on Monday. Left-back Jose Enrique missed that match with a hamstring problem but is expected to be fit enough to return.

Last season:

Liverpool 3 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 3 Liverpool 2

Last five league matches:

Man Utd L W W W D; Liverpool L D L W D

Top scorers (all competitions):

Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 20; Craig Bellamy (Liverpool) 9

Match odds:

H 4-5 A 14-5 D 23-10

Referee:

Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

Sunderland (8) v Arsenal (6)

Loan signing defenders Wayne Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos return for Sunderland after being ineligible for Wednesday’s FA Cup fourth round replay victory at Middlesbrough having not arrived on Wearside in time to be registered. Nicklas Bendtner cannot play against his parent club under the terms of his loan agreement. Centre back Matt Kilgallon has returned to training after an ankle injury but is short of match fitness while Lee Cattermole (hamstring), David Vaughan (ankle), Wes Brown (knee) and Titus Bramble (Achilles/calf) are still out.

Arsenal could have defender Kieran Gibbs back in the squad after his recovery from groin problems. Striker Marouane Chamakh has returned from the African Nations Cup, but Gervinho remains away as Ivory Coast prepare for the final. Defenders Carl Jenkinson (back) and Andre Santos (ankle) are still out, along with midfielders Abou Diaby (hamstring) and Jack Wilshere (ankle). Emmanuel Frimpong has returned from his loan spell at Wolves, but will be out for the rest of the season after needing surgery on his knee.

Last season:

Arsenal 0 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 1 Arsenal 1

Last five league matches:

Sunderland W L W W W; Arsenal L L L D W

Top scorers (all competitions):

Stephane Sessegnon (Sunderland) 7; Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 28

Match odds:

H 11-5 A 1-1 D 9-4

Referee:

Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)

Swansea (10) v Norwich (9)

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers, who signed a new three-and-a-half year contract this week, is likely to stick with the starting line-up that secured a 2-1 win at West Brom last weekend. New signing Curtis Obeng is unlikely to be rushed into the squad following his recent arrival from Wrexham, while midfielder Ferrie Bodde is again on the sidelines after being hit by another knee injury and Andrea Orlandi (hamstring) is also out.

Norwich defender Elliott Ward could be in line to make his first appearance of the season after six months on the sidelines with a knee problem. Centre backDaniel  Ayala will be out of action for around four weeks with a hamstring injury and partner Zak Whitbread is doubtful as he recovers from a hamstring strain. Full-back Marc Tierney has still not recovered from a groin problem while striker James Vaughan is training well but not yet match fit.

Last season:

No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches:

Swansea W W L D W; Norwich W W D L W

Top scorers (all competitions):

Rory Donnelly (Swansea) 12; Grant Holt & Steve Morison (Norwich) 9

Match odds:

H 4-5 A 14-5 D 23-10

Referee:

Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Tottenham (3) v Newcastle (5)

Spurs will be without Rafael van der Vaart who has failed to overcome the calf injury that kept him out of Monday’s draw at Liverpool. Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe (both hamstring) are back in the frame after missing the game at Anfield, but Younes Kaboul (knee) and Sandro (calf) are doubts. Ledley King (knee) will be given a late fitness test, but William Gallas (calf) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) are out.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will be without striker Leon Best and utility man Ryan Taylor. Best could miss the rest of the season with the medial ligament injury he suffered against Aston Villa last weekend, while the ankle problem Taylor sustained in the same game is less serious, but will keep him out at White Hart Lane. Yohan Cabaye completes his three-match ban, Cheick Tiote is still on African Nations Cup duty while defender Steven Taylor (Achilles) and midfielders Sylvain Marveaux (groin) and Sammy Ameobi (knee) continue their respective recoveries.

Last season:

Newcastle 1 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 2 Newcastle 0

Last five league matches:

Tottenham W D L W D; Newcastle W W L W W

Top scorers (all competitions):

Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 12; Demba Ba (Newcastle) 16

Match odds:

H 2-5 A 11-2 D 3-1

Referee:

Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

Sunday
Aston Villa (13) v Man City (1)

Villa are hopeful of having a trio of players back. Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor (back and hamstring), winger Marc Albrighton (thigh) and central defender James Collins (calf) have all made good progress towards fitness during the past week. Midfielder Chris Herd (ankle) remains the only long-term casualty. Striker Robbie Keane will make his final home appearance before returning to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Manchester City captain and defender Vincent Kompany (knee) should return and midfielder Samir Nasri is also in contention after leaving the field with a groin injury in last week’s defeat of Fulham. Striker Mario Balotelli is again missing as he completes a four-match suspension while midfielder Yaya Toure and defender Kolo Toure are still at the African Nations Cup.

Last season:

Aston Villa 1 Man City 0, Man City 4 Aston Villa 0

Last five league matches:

Aston Villa L D W D L; Man City W W W L W

Top scorers (all competitions):

Darren Bent (Aston Villa) 10; Sergio Aguero (Man City) 18

Match odds:

H 18-5 A 8-13 D 5-2

Referee:

Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Wolves (17) v West Brom (15)

Wolves will check the fitness of central midfielders Jamie O’Hara (groin) and Dave Edwards (thigh) ahead of the game. Manager Mick McCarthy is already without Emmanuel Frimpong, who returned to Arsenal after rupturing knee ligaments, and the suspended Karl Henry in that department. Winger Michael Kightly (back) is also sidelined while right back Kevin Foley is battling to overcome an ankle problem.

West Brom head coach Roy Hodgson will wait for late fitness checks on striker Shane Long and midfielder Graham Dorrans before finalising his side. Long has been troubled by a back complaint and chest pains and has only been able to train on his own this week, while Dorrans is suffering from a hip problem. Hodgson has to decide whether to give first starts to transfer deadline day signings, left back Liam Ridgewell and midfielder Keith Andrews.

Last season:

Wolves 3 West Brom 1, West Brom 1 Wolves 1

Last five league matches:

Wolves L D L L W; West Brom L L W D L

Top scorers (all competitions):

Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 9; Keith Andrews (West Brom) 9

Match odds:

H 5-4 A 1-4 D 11-5

Referee:

Lee Mason (Lancashire)