Premier League team news

Soccer: All the latest team news ahead of this weekend's Premier League fixtures

Soccer:All the latest team news ahead of this weekend's Premier League fixtures

Saturday
Arsenal (2) v Tottenham (7)
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has overcome a back problem which ruled him out of England's defeat to France and will feature in the derby. There were no other injury concerns from the midweek international friendlies, Laurent Koscielny returns from a two-game suspension and Nicklas Bendtner (groin) should be available after missing the win at Everton.

Jermain Defoe returns to the Tottenham squad after recovering from ankle surgery almost a month ahead of schedule. Aaron Lennon looks to have overcome a hamstring injury but Niko Kranjcar is doubtful with a calf problem and could join Robbie Keane (ankle), Giovani dos Santos (groin) and long-term absentees Tom Huddlestone (ankle), captain Ledley King (groin), Michael Dawson (ligament damage), Jamie O’Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) on the sidelines.

Last season:Tottenham 2 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 3 Tottenham 0
Last five league matches:Arsenal W W L W W; Tottenham D L L D W
Top scorers (all competitions):Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal) 8; Gareth Bale & Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham) 8
Match odds:H 8-13 A 4-1 D 3-1
Referee:Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

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Birmingham (18) v Chelsea (1)
Birmingham could restore Lee Bowyer to the starting line-up in place of Craig Gardner, who is struggling with an ankle injury which he suffered against Manchester City.

Chelsea are without captain John Terry but Brazilian defender Alex is available. Terry has had treatment in Italy for a nerve problem in his right leg but is not ready to play against City. However, Alex who still requires surgery on a knee problem, will start. Midfielder Yury Zhirkov misses out through a calf injury and Florent Malouda will take his place on the left side of midfield. Michael Essien sits out the second match of his three-game ban.

Last season:Chelsea 3 Birmingham 0, Birmingham 0 Chelsea 0
Last five league matches:Birmingham W D D L D; Chelsea W W L W L
Top scorers (all competitions):Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 4; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 10
Match odds:H 9-2 A 8-13 D 11-4
Referee:Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Blackpool (15) v Wolves (19)
Wolves defender Christophe Berra is set to return after the Scotland defender was forced to withdraw from last weekend's home defeat against Bolton shortly before kick-off with a sore knee. Fellow centre back Steven Mouyokolo has also been declared fit after suffering a knee injury in the early stages against the Trotters, although he was able to complete the game. Winger Matt Jarvis is expected to be fit despite missing part of training this week with a calf injury.

Key midfielder Charlie Adam is a major doubt for the Seasiders after he suffered a medial ligament strain playing for Scotland in midweek. Ghana international Richard Kingson will continue in goal with Matt Gilks ruled out for up to two months with a broken kneecap.

Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Blackpool L W D L D; Wolves L W L L L
Top scorers (all competitions):Charlie Adam & Marlon Harewood (Blackpool) 4; Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 4
Match odds:H 7-5 A 9-5 D 12-5
Referee:Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Bolton (5) v Newcastle (8)
Bolton defender Gretar Steinsson is available after serving a one-match suspension. Fabrice Muamba should be fit despite pulling out of the England under-21s squad earlier this week with a thigh problem, but Joey O'Brien, Ricardo Gardner, Jlloyd Samuel and Sean Davis are all still sidelined.

Newcastle striker Andy Carroll played 70 minutes for England in midweek despite a groin problem but returned unscathed, and he could be joined in the starting line-up by Shola Ameobi following his recovery from a hamstring strain. However, Hughton will be without midfielders Cheik Tiote and Joey Barton, who are both suspended.

Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Bolton D L W D W; Newcastle W W W L D
Top scorers (all competitions):Johan Elmander (Bolton) 6; Andrew Carroll & Kevin Nolan (Newcastle) 7
Match odds:H 11-10 A 9-4 D 5-2
Referee:Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Liverpool (11) v West Ham (20)
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard sustained a grade two tear in England's friendly defeat to France in midweek and will be out for at least three to four weeks. Lucas Leiva will serve a one-match suspension but defenders Glen Johnson, back after three games out, and Fabio Aurelio, who has made one substitute appearance since the end of August, are both in the squad. Joe Cole (hamstring) is still a week away from fitness.

Scott Parker is a major doubt because of a chest infection and will need a late fitness check as the Hammers look for their first win at Anfield in 47 years. Julien Faubert returns to the squad after suspension but Valon Behrami (hip) is still a doubt and Manuel Da Costa (ankle), Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh) and Jack Collison (knee) are ruled out. Young forwards Zavon Hines (knee) and Junior Stanislas (groin) are back in training but will not be risked this weekend.

Last season:Liverpool 3 West Ham 0, West Ham 2 Liverpool 3
Last five league matches:Liverpool W W W D L; West Ham L L D D D Top scorers (all competitions):Steven Gerrard & David Ngog (Liverpool) 7; Scott Parker & Frederic Piquionne (West Ham) 5
Match odds:H 4-7 A 11-2 D 13-5
Referee:Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Man Utd (3) v Wigan (17)
Wayne Rooney returns to the Manchester United squad after not featuring since a brief substitute appearance against West Brom at the beginning of last month but is now on the verge of a full recovery from his ankle injury and eager to get his first goal in open play since March. Rio Ferdinand (hamstring) and Chris Smalling (groin) returned from international duty with minor injuries, while Ryan Giggs (hamstring) is also a doubt.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez believes Gary Caldwell could miss as many as six weeks with a thigh injury, while fellow centre half Emmerson Boyce also out with a muscle problem. Caldwell’s brother Steven could be drafted into the side, while James McCarthy is a long-term absentee with an ankle injury.

Last season:Man Utd 5 Wigan 0, Wigan 0 Man Utd 5
Last five league matches:Man Utd W W W D D; Wigan D L L D W
Top scorers (all competitions):Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 7; Charles N'Zogbia & Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 4
Match odds:H 2-9 A 14-1 D 9-2
Referee:Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

West Brom (12) v Stoke (10)
Chris Brunt sustained a groin injury during Northern Ireland's 1-1 draw with Morocco at Windsor Park on Wednesday and was substituted at half-time, making him a doubt for Albion. Defender Jonas Olsson (Achilles) and striker Ishmael Miller (abdomen) are definitely out although boss Roberto Di Matteo welcomes back defender Gonzalo Jara from a three-game suspension.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis could well keep faith with the side which beat Liverpool last weekend, especially as the only players on international duty were the Republic of Ireland’s Glenn Whelan, Jon Walters and Marc Wilson — all of whom were not in that XI. Asmir Begovic is expected to continue in goal with Thomas Sorensen still having slight problems with an elbow injury.

Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:West Brom W L L D L; Stoke L L L W W
Top scorers (all competitions):Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 4; Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 6
Match odds:H 21-20 A 13-5 D 23-10
Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Sunday
Blackburn (14) v Aston Villa (9)
Blackburn midfielder Brett Emerton is a major doubt with a hamstring injury suffered on international duty in Egypt in midweek and will be given a late fitness test.

Emerton joins a lengthy injury list including Benjani Mwaruwari (hamstring), Vince Grella (Achilles), Keith Andrews (groin), Martin Olsson (calf) and Steven Nzonzi (hamstring). El-Hadji Diouf should be fit after a hamstring problem while David Dunn is also in contention to start.

Robert Pires could make his Villa debut after signing a six-month deal and declaring himself fit enough to play some part against Rovers after training with former club Arsenal for the past two months. Villa boss Gerard Houllier will check on the fitness of striker Gabriel Agbonlahor (shin), midfielder Ciaran Clark (calf) and central defender Richard Dunne (knee).

Last season:Aston Villa 0 Blackburn 1, Blackburn 2 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches:Blackburn L L W W L; Aston Villa L D D W D
Top scorers (all competitions):Mame Biram Diouf (Blackburn) 4; Stewart Downing (Aston Villa) 5
Match odds:H 13-10 A 11-5 D 21-10
Referee:Michael Oliver (Northumberland).

Fulham (16) v Man City (4)
Striker Moussa Dembele will be out of action for three weeks after aggravating an ankle injury in training. Mexican defender Carlos Salcido returns ahead of schedule after recovering from ankle ligament damage. Defender Chris Baird is back in contention after missing two weeks with a thigh tear.

Joleon Lescott (foot) and Micah Richards (rib) picked up problems on England duty in midweek and are Roberto Mancini’s main doubts, while Mario Balotelli is still suspended.

Last season:Fulham 1 Man City 2, Man City 2 Fulham 2
Last five league matches:Fulham L W D L D; Man City L L W D D
Top scorers (all competitions):Clinton Dempsey (Fulham) 5; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 7
Match odds:H 2-1 A 11-8 D 9-4
Referee:Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Monday
Sunderland (6) v Everton (13)
Darren Bent has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, but is back in training and may be available once again. Danny Welbeck, who has partnered record signing Asamoah Gyan in Bent's absence, is expected to recover from a tight hamstring, but John Mensah (shoulder) and Anton Ferdinand (hamstring) will be missing once again.

Everton are again without midfielder Marouane Fellaini as he serves the second match of a three-game suspension for his sending-off against Bolton earlier this month. Manager David Moyes has reported no fresh injury concerns following this week’s midweek internationals.

Last season:Everton 2 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 1 Everton 1
Last five league matches:Sunderland W L W D W; Everton D W D D L
Top scorers (all competitions):Darren Bent (Sunderland) 8; Tim Cahill (Everton) 6
Match odds:H 6-4 A 19-10 D 21-10
Referee:Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).