Premier League team news

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

Saturday, April 25th

Bolton (13) v Aston Villa (5)

Bolton boss Gary Megson will assess the fitness of defenders Ricardo Gardner (hamstring) and Danny Shittu (calf). However, Megson hopes both will be available, leaving midfield knee injury victims Mark Davies and Joey O’Brien as the Trotters‘ only absentees.

Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is winning his battle to recover from a calf strain in time and should challenge John Carew and Emile Heskey for a starting place. Boss Martin O’Neill has no new injury worries.

Last season:Aston Villa 4 Bolton 0, Bolton 1 Aston Villa 1

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

Top scorers:Kevin Davies (Bolton) 12; Gabriel Agbonlahor & John Carew (Aston Villa) 13

Match odds:H 13-8 A 13-10 D 11-5

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)

Everton (6) v Man City (10)

On-loan striker Jo sits out the clash against his parent club, meaning Louis Saha could return to the team following the midweek draw with Chelsea. Marouane Fellaini missed the game at Stamford Bridge because of a knee problem and his fitness will be monitored by boss David Moyes.

City will be without Craig Bellamy, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Pablo Zabaleta. Although it has been suggested Bellamy will miss the remainder of the campaign with a knee injury, manager Mark Hughes has not yet given up on the Welshman. Nigel de Jong is also a major doubt with a thigh injury.

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

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

Top scorers:Tim Cahill (Everton) 9; Robinho (Man City) 13

Match odds:H 10-11 A 15-4 D 5-2

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)

Fulham (8) v Stoke (12)

Fulham are without midfielder Simon Davies, who has had a scan on a stress fracture on his foot which has grown steadily worse and could sideline him for much of the run-in. Midfielder Giles Barnes (Achilles) and defender Tony Kallio (virus) are also missing.

Tony Pulis has been forced to reshuffle his Stoke side, with James Beattie (thigh) and Danny Higginbotham (back) sidelined. Andy Wilkinson also has a back problem and is doubtful and with Mamady Sidibe, Amdy Faye and Salif Diao absent and having treatment, Pulis is short of options.

Last season:No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers:Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 10; James Beattie (Stoke) 18

Match odds:H 8-11 A 16-5 D 9-4

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)

Hull (16) v Liverpool (2)

Striker Daniel Cousin could replace on-loan Manucho in Hull’s starting line-up after recovering from a back injury. Richard Garcia will also be in the squad following minor knee surgery and will boost the Tigers’ attacking options as they look to move away from the relegation zone.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is still struggling with a groin problem which has forced him to sit out the last three matches. However, manager Rafael Benitez hopes Gerrard will be fit for next weekend’s visit of Newcastle.

Last season:No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers:Geovanni (Hull) 7; Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 21

Match odds: H 7-1 A 1-3 D 3-1

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Man Utd (1) v Tottenham (9)

Gary Neville is out for two weeks after injuring his foot against Portsmouth. However, John O’Shea is fit after injuring his ankle in midweek and could be part of a squad which also includes Wes Brown, who has come through two reserve outings this week without a reaction. Ryan Giggs hopes for his 800th appearance.

Tottenham centre-back Michael Dawson is still waiting for a scan on his ankle and will miss the match, as will striker Roman Pavlyuchenko (back). Ledley King will require his usual check on his knee before being named in the starting XI, while on-loan Fraizer Campbell is ineligible to face his parent club.

Last season:Tottenham 1 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 1 Tottenham 0

Last five league matches:Man Utd L L W W W; Tottenham W W L W W

Top scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 21; Darren Bent & Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham) 16

Match odds:H 7-15 A 15-2 D 10-3

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

West Brom (20) v Sunderland (15)

West Brom will be without key midfielder James Morrison, who is ruled out with a heel problem which has dogged him in recent months. Striker Roman Bednar (hamstring) and central defender Shelton Martis (groin) are back in the squad after missing three and two matches respectively.

Sunderland’s Kieran Richardson is pushing for a recall after overcoming a calf injury. Captain Dean Whitehead is also training again after a leg injury and

is in the squad but Nyron Nosworthy (hamstring) is out and George McCartney (calf) remains sidelined.

Last season:No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers:Roman Bednar & Chris Brunt (West Brom) 6; Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 11

Match odds:H 6-5 A 9-5 D 11-5

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

West Ham (7) v Chelsea (3)

West Ham hope to have fit-again Radoslav Kovac back — he is likely to be the only addition to the squad which earned a point against Aston Villa. That means teenage striker Freddie Sears will again be included.

Chelsea are without midfielder Deco and defender Ricardo Carvalho, who are struggling to regain fitness following hamstring problems. Right-back Jose Bosingwa is in the squad after recovering from a similar injury but Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira are out for the season with knee ligament injuries. Interim coach Guus Hiddink may rest some of his regulars ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League match against Barcelona.

Last season:West Ham 0 Chelsea 4, Chelsea 1 West Ham 0

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

Top scorers:Carlton Cole (West Ham) 11; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 21

Match odds:H 9-2 A 3-4 D 13-5

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Sunday, April 26th

Arsenal (4) v Middlesbrough (18)

Arsenal will be without leading scorer Robin van Persie (groin) but goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (ankle), striker Emmanuel Adebayor (hamstring) and defender Johan Djourou (knee) could all be available. Left-back Gael Clichy (back), centre-half William Gallas (knee) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) are all sidelined.

Boro have Gary O’Neil back from suspension and fellow midfielder Didier Digard, out for two months with quadricep and medial ligament injuries, could also be involved after playing 65 minutes for the reserves in midweek. Chris Riggott (ankle) is a doubt and Emanuel Pogatetz (knee) remains on the casualty list.

Last season:Arsenal 1 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 2 Arsenal 1

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

Top scorers:Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) 17; Afonso Alves, Marlon King & Tuncay Sanli (Middlesbrough) 7

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

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Blackburn (17) v Wigan (11)

Rovers will again be short of strikers with Roque Santa Cruz and Jason Roberts still on the injury list. There are now doubts over whether Santa Cruz (knee) and Roberts (metatarsal) will play again this season, but manager Sam Allardyce at least has no fresh injury concerns.

Wigan top scorer Amr Zaki has recovered from a hamstring injury and has impressed Bruce in training this week, while record signing Charles N’Zogbia is over a niggling knee problem. Lee Cattermole returns from a ban and Bruce has the option of pushing Paul Scharner back into the defence to accommodate the Teessider.

Last season:Blackburn 3 Wigan 1, Wigan 5 Blackburn 3

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

Top scorers:Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 11; Amr Zaki (Wigan) 11

Match odds:H 10-11 A 12-5 D 9-4

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)

Monday, April 27th

Newcastle (19) v Portsmouth (14)

Full-back Jose Enrique, Newcastle’s only senior specialist left-back, could figure after knee trouble. Strikers Obafemi Martins (groin) and Mark Viduka (Achilles) suffered no reaction to their returns to action but Steven Taylor (ankle) and Joey Barton (foot) remain doubts.

Pompey expect forward David Nugent and defender Younes Kaboul to be fit after knocks. Kaboul’s return would enable Glen Johnson to revert to midfield at Jermaine Pennant’s expense. Midfielder Niko Kranjcar is unlikely to feature although medical reports on his damaged ankle suggest he will play again this season.

Last season:Portsmouth 0 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 1 Portsmouth 4

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

Top scorers:Michael Owen (Newcastle) 10; Peter Crouch (Portsmouth) 16

Match odds:H 10-11 A 12-5 D 9-4

Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)