Damien Duff may lead the Blackburn Rovers attack tonight as they strive to turn around a 1-0 deficit in France against Lyon (BBC1, 8.0). Such are manager Roy Hodgson's problems with injured strikers, Duff may be partnered by 18-year-old David Dunn, who made his first team debut when he came on for 11 minutes against Everton on Saturday. Republic of Ireland international Duff, troubled by injury at the start of the season, played as a winger against Everton before being replaced by Dunn.
Chris Sutton and Kevin Davies are definitely ruled out. There is a chance that Kevin Gallacher and Martin Dahlin could yet figure. Both of them, together with Sutton (damaged ankle) and Davies (ill), were left behind when the squad flew to France yesterday.
But they subsequently came successfully through a training session and, if they pass fitness tests this morning, they will be travelling to France "on the next plane" according to Hodgson.
Stan Collymore will embark tonight on the most important phase of his, so far, disappointing Aston Villa career. Collymore confronts the Norwegian part-timers of Stromgodset because Paul Merson is ineligible and Villa's manager John Gregory has opted for experience rather than the raw talent of the teenager Darius Vassell, whose two late goals completed his club's 3-2 victory in the first leg. Collymore, making his first start for Villa in six months after a brief re-introduction against Middlesbrough on Saturday, must justify his club's record £7 million outlay to demonstrate he is worthy of a regular place in a team that has soared to the top of the Premiership without him.
Leeds United's preparations for tonight's tie against Maritimo in Madeira were upset further when striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink threatened to quit the club if manager George Graham leaves to take over at Tottenham.
Tonight's game is believed to be Graham's last in charge of the Yorkshire club. A compensation package of around £2.5 million is being thrashed out between Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale and Tottenham's Alan Sugar to allow Graham to be installed at White Hart Lane on Thursday.
Despite reduced admission prices, it is unlikely an audience much in excess of 20,000 will witness the last rites at Anfield when Liverpool, 3-0 winners in the away leg, play out what surely must be a dead rubber with Kosice (Network 2, 8.0).
Celtic spearhead the remaining Scottish clubs in Europe, facing Vitoria Guimaraes of Portugal tonight with a 2-1 lead from the away leg. Rangers' return with Beitar of Jerusalem at Ibrox has been put back to Thursday because of Yom Kippur - the first leg finished 1-1.
