Premier League Team News

Birmingham (17) v Man City (9)

Liam Ridgewell begins a two-game suspension with Franck Queudrue, Martin Taylor and Rafael Schmitz all vying to replace the Birmingham defender. Playmaker James McFadden (knee) is still injured but Olivier Kapo will return to training nextweek following a hamstring problem.

Midfielder Dietmar Hamann returns from suspension for the visitors. Midfielder Michael Johnson should be fit despite struggling this week with a chest infection but defenders Michael Ball and Micah Richards (both knee) remain on the sidelines.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers: James McFadden (Birmingham) 9; Benjani Mwaruwari (Man City) 13

Match odds: H 5-4 A 9-5 D 21-10

Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire).

Bolton (18) v Arsenal (3)

Bolton captain Kevin Nolan is banned, while defender Ricardo Gardner is missing for at least a month with a broken rib and joins goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen (back) on the sidelines. Midfielder Ivan Campo will feature after apologising to boss Gary Megson for his reaction to being replaced against Manchester City.

Arsenal are without full-back Bacary Sagna (ankle). Emmanuel Eboue could slot into defence, which would allow Theo Walcott another chance to impress on the right wing. Midfielder Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) also remains sidelined, while striker Eduardo is out for the season with a broken leg.

Last season:Arsenal 2 Bolton 1, Bolton 3 Arsenal 1

Last five league matches: Bolton L L L L D; Arsenal D D D D L

Top scorers:Grzegorz Rasiak (Bolton) 8; Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 23

Match odds:H 7-2 A 4-6 D 23-10

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Derby (20) v Fulham (19)

Derby wait on defender Jay McEveley, who sustained a dead leg on international duty. Tyrone Mears is on his way back after an operation on his left shin but will not be involved and Alan Stubbs (calf) is still out — but goalkeeper Roy Carroll and midfielder Mile Sterjovski play after recovering from groin injuries.

Northern Ireland striker David Healy is a doubt for Fulham after suffering an ankle injury on international duty in midweek. Keeper Kasey Keller is set to continue in goal ahead of Ricardo Baptista.

Last season:No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers:Kenny Miller (Derby) 8; Erik Nevland (Fulham) 7

Match odds:H 7-4 A 5-4 D 11-5

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Man Utd (1) v Aston Villa (7)

United midfielder Darren Fletcher has been sidelined for six weeks because of a knee ligament injury, while Louis Saha is also ruled out because of a hamstring problem. Nani is doubtful because of a thigh problem while Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre remain sidelined through injury.

Olof Mellberg returns from suspension to replace Craig Gardner at right-back for Villa. Boss Martin O'Neill has to decide whether to keep faith with on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson, who has looked short of confidence in recentgames and made crucial errors.

Last season: Man Utd 3 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 3

Last five league matches:Man Utd W W W W W; Aston Villa W D D L L

Top scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 34; John Carew (Aston Villa) 9

Match odds:H 2-7 A 8-1 D 16-5

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Portsmouth (6) v Wigan (14)

Sol Campbell and Jermain Defoe return for Pompey but Lassana Diarra misses out and Hermann Hreidarsson (knee) and Lucien Aubey (hamstring) require late fitness tests. Lauren has recovered from a virus but Sulley Muntari and Papa Bouba Diop complete two-match bans.

Wigan left-back Erik Edman is out for up to six months after rupturing his cruciate knee ligament, while midfielders Michael Brown, Wilson Palacios and Jason Koumas are banned. Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland should be available after a back injury, while Antoine Sibierski has recovered from a calf problem.

Last season: Wigan 1 Portsmouth 0, Portsmouth 1 Wigan 0

Last five league matches:Portsmouth W L W W L; Wigan W D D W L

Top scorers:Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth) 14; Marlon King (Wigan) 12

Match odds:H 4-5 A 14-5 D 9-4

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Reading (15) v Blackburn (8)

Reading will check Jimmy Kebe's fitness after the winger picked up a knock on international duty with Mali. Defender Graeme Murty (knee) and winger Glen Little (heel) both made comebacks in a reserve match but will not be considered  for recalls, along with midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson (groin). Midfielder EmerseFae remains doubtful following a bout of malaria.

Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen is poised to return to the side having been out for 10 weeks with a scar-tissue injury. Leading scorer Roque Santa Cruz (ankle) is doubtful while Brett Emerton will undergo a late fitness test on a groin injury. Midfielder Johann Vogel finally comes into the reckoning after receiving international clearance following his recent move.

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

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

Top scorers:Dave Kitson (Reading) 9; Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn) 18

Match odds:H 13-10 A 7-4 D 21-10

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Sunderland (16) v West Ham (10)

Striker Kenwyne Jones could return to Sunderland's squad after recovering from a virus but winger Carlos Edwards is rated only 50-50 with a groin problem. Danny Collins (dead leg) and Nyron Nosworthy (groin) are expected to play but Dickson Etuhu (knee) is out for several weeks.

Teenage striker Freddie Sears (groin) is a doubt but Bobby Zamora is expected to return to the Hammers squad after blisters. Defender Matthew Upson (calf) is still a worry and Danny Gabbidon (groin) and James Collins (knee) are also sidelined so James Tomkins could continue at the back.

Last season:No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches:Sunderland L D L L W; West Ham L L L W D

Top scorers:Rade Prica (Sunderland) 13; Dean Ashton (West Ham) 8

Match odds:H 6-5 A 15-8 D 21-10

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Sunday, March 30th

Chelsea (2) v Middlesbrough (12)

Blues boss Avram Grant faces an anxious wait to see if captain John Terry (hamstring) and midfielder Frank Lampard (illness) will be fit. Goalkeeper Petr Cech should have recovered from his ankle problem to be included in the matchday squad.

Boro boss Gareth Southgate gives late fitness tests to Robert Huth and Luke Young. Huth was forced to sit out of midweek action with Germany due to a foot injury and is rated a major doubt, while Young is on the road to recovery after a hamstring injury. Mido and Fabio Rochemback are again suspended.

Last season:Chelsea 3 Middlesbrough 0, Middlesbrough 2 Chelsea 1

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

Top scorers:Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 17; Afonso Alves (Middlesbrough) 11

Match odds: H 1-4 A 9-1 D 7-2

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Liverpool (4) v Everton (5)

Fernando Torres needed precautionary scans on back and ankle knocks after the controversial defeat at Manchester United last weekend but is fit to play. Javier Mascherano is suspended, while Steve Finnan is close to a return after a groin problem.

Midfielder Tim Cahill is out for the rest of the season after lasting just 10 minutes against Fulham before the recurrence of a metatarsal injury but striker Andrew Johnson (groin) is fit.

Last season: Liverpool 0 Everton 0, Everton 3 Liverpool 0

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

Top scorers:Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 27; Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 19

Match odds: H 4-5 A 16-5 D 2-1

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Tottenham (11) v Newcastle (13)

Spurs centre-back Jonathan Woodgate has had a tight hamstring but could still play, while captain Ledley King could be rested as he comes back gradually from knee surgery. Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) and Gareth Bale (foot) are expected to miss the rest of the campaign.

Newcastle defender Claudio Cacapa is likely to be out for several weeks with a groin problem, joining goalkeeper Shay Given (groin) on the long-term casualty list. James Milner (foot), Emre (calf) and Stephen Carr (hamstring) are some way short of match fitness, while Shola Ameobi has joined Stoke on loan.

Last season: Tottenham 2 Newcastle 3, Newcastle 3 Tottenham 1

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

Top scorers:Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 22; Michael Owen (Newcastle) 8

Match odds: H 4-7 A 4-1 D 5-2

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).