Premier League Team News

All the team news ahead of this weekend's Premier League fixtures.

Saturday, January 14th

Aston Villa (13) v Everton (11)

Striker Robbie Keane is in contention to make his Villa debut subject to obtaining international clearance after joining on a two-month loan from Los Angeles Galaxy. The Irishman will replace Achilles injury victim Emile Heskey — sidelined for a month — in the squad. Goalkeeper Shay Given is available after a six week lay-off with a hamstring problem but defender Carlos Cuellar (thigh) and midfielder Chris Herd (ankle) are still ruled out.

New signing Darron Gibson goes straight into Everton’s squad after the Irishman was registered in time to be eligible after his move from Manchester United. A hamstring injury to Sylvain Distin leaves manager David Moyes with more problems at centre-back as Phil Jagielka is still sidelined by a knee problem, which could mean a start for Shane Duffy, who only made his first league appearance as a substitute in the midweek defeat at Tottenham.

Last season: Everton 2 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 1 Everton 0

Last five league matches: Aston Villa L L D W L; Everton W D W L L

Top scorers (all competitions): Darren Bent & Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 6; Leighton Baines (Everton) 4

Match odds: H 7-5 A 9-5 D 19-10

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)

Blackburn (20) v Fulham (14)

Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson (calf), winger Junior Hoilett and central midfielder David Dunn (both hamstring) could all make their returns from injury having been in full training this week, along with defender and club captain Christopher Samba, who sat out the FA Cup defeat at Newcastle last

weekend due to an ankle knock and tight hamstring. Fellow centre-half Scott Dann (groin) is not yet ready for first-team action again.

Fulham will welcome back Andrew Johnson (groin) and Simon Davies (back). Davies’ fellow midfielder Dickson Etuhu will be assessed ahead of the match, while goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer (spine) is making steady progress and should return in the next couple of weeks.

Last season: Fulham 3 Blackburn 2, Blackburn 1 Fulham 1

Last five league matches: Blackburn L L D W L; Fulham W L D D W

Top scorers

(all competitions): Ayegbeni Yakubu (Blackburn) 13; Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 12

Match odds: H 6-4 A 29-20 D 11-5

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)

Chelsea (4) v Sunderland (10)

Florent Malouda is doubtful after the winger suffered a knock in Sunday’s FA Cup win over Portsmouth and failed to train on Wednesday or Thursday. Daniel Sturridge and John Terry have both been passed fit but the game comes a week too soon for Michael Essien (knee), Branislav Ivanovic and John Obi Mikel (both hamstring), while Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are on African Nations Cup duty.

Nicklas Bendtner could return to the Sunderland squad after the Denmark international missed the FA Cup third round victory over Peterborough because of a knee injury. If so, he will be joined in the squad by fellow frontman Fraizer Campbell, who is available for the first time since August 2010 after

recovering from a second serious knee problem, but Jack Colback (ankle), Wes Brown (groin) and Titus Bramble (calf/Achilles) remain on the casualty list.

Last season: Sunderland 2 Chelsea 4, Chelsea 0 Sunderland 3

Last five league matches: Chelsea D D D L W; Sunderland L W D W W

Top scorers

(all competitions): Frank Lampard & Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea) 10; Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) 6

Match odds: H 2-7 A 7-1 D 18-5

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

Liverpool (6) v Stoke (8)

Defender Jose Enrique is set to return to Liverpool’s starting line-up after he was left out for tactical reasons in the Carling Cup semi-final first-leg win over Manchester City. Midfielder Jay Spearing sustained a minor hamstring injury in midweek and that is likely to allow Charlie Adam to regain his place.

Stoke defenders Jonathan Woodgate, Marc Wilson and Ryan Shotton are all nursing what manager Tony Pulis describes as “niggles” and will be assessed. Andy Wilkinson could return at the back having overcome his recent knee injury, while the likes of goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, winger Matthew Etherington and striker Peter Crouch are set to be restored to the team after they were rested for last weekend’s FA Cup victory at Gillingham.

Last season: Liverpool 2 Stoke 0, Stoke 2 Liverpool 0

Last five league matches: Liverpool W D D W L; Stoke W L D D W

Top scorers (all competitions): Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 8; Peter Crouch & Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 8

Match odds: H 2-5 A 11-2 D 3-1

Referee: Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)

Man Utd (2) v Bolton (18)

Manchester United defenders Chris Smalling and Phil Jones have taken time to get over problems they sustained in a collision during last Sunday’s FA Cup win over Manchester City, while Anderson took a blow in training this week. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson must also decide whether Paul Scholes is fit enough to take a starting berth after his shock retirement U-turn last weekend.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle is ready to play Gary Cahill if his proposed move to Chelsea does not go through. As the Blues expect to sign Cahill before the weekend, Zat Knight is likely to partner David Wheater in central defence. Coyle will make a late check on goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, who is nearing full fitness after a thigh strain.

Last season: Man Utd 1 Bolton 0, Bolton 2 Man Utd 2

Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W L L; Bolton L W L D W

Top scorers (all competitions): Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 18; Ivan Klasnic (Bolton) 8

Match odds: H 1-9 A 12-1 D 6-1

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)

Tottenham (3) v Wolves (16)

Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker (knee) remains a doubt and defender Ledley King (hamstring) is not fit. Aaron Lennon could be rested as part of his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury, while defender William Gallas and midfielder Sandro are out with calf strains. Tom Huddlestone has returned to light training following his long-term ankle injury lay-off but will not figure tomorrow.

Wolves midfielder Nenad Milijas is available after completing a three-match ban. Skipper Roger Johnson is expected to recover from the ankle knock which

forced him to be substituted during the FA Cup third-round draw at Birmingham last weekend. Midfielder Dave Edwards should also be available again after recovering from tightness in his groin while former captain Karl Henry will make his 200th league appearance for Wolves if selected.

Last season: Wolves 3 Tottenham 3, Tottenham 3 Wolves 1

Last five league matches: Tottenham D W D W W; Wolverhampton L D D D L

Top scorers (all competitions): Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 11; Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 8

Match odds: H 2-9 A 15-2 D 9-2

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)

West Brom (15) v Norwich (9)

Baggies boss Roy Hodgson has to assess the chances of centre-backs Gareth McAuley and Jonas Olsson (both calf), winger Jerome Thomas (groin), midfielders Paul Scharner (Achilles) and Youssouf Mulumbu (groin) plus striker Shane Long (back). Skipper Chris Brunt (fractured ankle), fellow midfielder Zoltan Gera (knee) and defender Steven Reid (ankle and knee) are definitely ruled out.

Goalkeeper John Ruddy returns to the Norwich squad after missing the FA Cup win against Burnley after his partner gave birth to a daughter. Full-back Marc Tierney is back in training after recovering from a groin injury while on-loan Manchester United defender Ritchie de Laet (back) is still out.

Centre-forward James Vaughan and defender Elliott Ward (both knee) are still several weeks from returning.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: West Brom W W D L L; Norwich D D L D W

Top scorers

(all competitions): Shane Long & Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 5; Steve Morison & Grant Holt (Norwich) 8

Match odds: H 21-20 A 5-2 D 5-2

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Sunday, January 15th

Newcastle (7) v QPR (17)

Midfielder Danny Guthrie has returned to the Newcastle squad having been sidelined by a groin injury since the beginning of December and will provide manager Alan Pardew with a fresh option in the wake of Cheick Tiote’s departure for the African Nations Cup. However, striker Peter Lovenkrands (calf) is unlikely to make the game, and Sammy Ameobi (knee) has joined fellow midfielder Sylvain Marveaux (groin) and defender Steve Taylor (Achilles) on the list of long-term absentees.

QPR captain Joey Barton remains suspended while Adel Taarabt and Armand Traore are on African Nations Cup duty. Alejandro Faurlin (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of the season and goalkeeper Paddy Kenny is keeping his fingers crossed he does not suffer a recurrence of the hip problem that has dogged him

recently.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Newcastle D L W L W; QPR L L D L L

Top scorers (all competitions): Demba Ba (Newcastle) 15; Heidar Helguson (QPR) 8

Match odds: H 7-10 A 16-5 D 12-5

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Swansea (12) v Arsenal (5)

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers has almost a full squad and is set to make changes from the side that beat Barnsley in the FA Cup. The likes of Michel Vorm, Joe Allen, Steven Caulker and Scott Sinclair are likely to return to the starting line-up, while Gylfi Sigurdsson could be handed a full debut in midfield. Long-term absentee Alan Tate is on the comeback trail after featuring for the reserves in midweek, four months after suffering a broken leg, but

is a few weeks away from a return to first-team action.

Arsenal captain Robin van Persie will return to the squad following an extended break while Thierry Henry, on loan from the New York Red Bulls, will again be in contention having come off the bench to score in the FA Cup win over Leeds. Defender Johan Djourou is available after suspension and midfielder Tomas Rosicky and centre-back Per Mertesacker are battling to overcome a virus. Strikers Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho are away at the African Nations Cup. Defenders Francis Coquelin (hamstring), Thomas Vermaelen (calf), Kieran Gibbs (groin), Bacary Sagna (ankle), Carl Jenkinson (back) and Andre Santos (ankle) are all still out, along with midfielders Abou Diaby (hamstring) and Jack Wilshere (ankle).

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Swansea D L D D W; Arsenal L W D W L

Top scorers (all competitions): Danny Graham (Swansea) 8; Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 21

Match odds: H 18-5 A 8-13 D 5-2

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Monday, January 16th

Wigan (19) v Man City (1)

Winger Albert Crusat is back in contention for Wigan following a back injury, while young striker Callum McManaman could be on the bench after impressing Latics manager Roberto Martinez in the otherwise disappointing FA Cup defeat at Swindon. Midfielder Mohamed Diame is on African Nations Cup duty with Senegal.

Manchester City are set to welcome David Silva back after the Spaniard missed Tuesday’s Carling Cup defeat to Liverpool with an ankle injury. Mario Balotelli (ankle) is doubtful, whilst Vincent Kompany serves the second game of a four-match ban.

Last season: Man City 1 Wigan 0, Wigan 0 Man City 2

Last five league matches: Wigan D D L D L; Man City W W D L W

Top scorers (all competitions): Ben Watson, Jordi Gomez & Franco Di Santo (Wigan) 4; Sergio Aguero (Man City) 17

Match odds: H 13-2 A 3-10 D 18-5

Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire).