Weekend Premier League team news

Bolton (13) v Hull (18):Midfielder Ricardo Gardner has been ruled out of Bolton's final two matches after failing to recover from a hamstring injury. Defender Danny Shittu could make the squad against Hull after a calf injury, having trained during the week.

Hull winger Bernard Mendy misses out due to a hairline fracture of the toe. Defender Kamil Zayatte is in the reckoning despite suffering a head injury in last week’s defeat by Stoke but striker Caleb Folan is suspended while captain Ian Ashbee (knee), Jimmy Bullard (knee) and Anthony Gardner (back) are all long-term casualties.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Bolton L L D D D; Hull L L L L L
Top scorers: Kevin Davies (Bolton) 12; Geovanni (Hull) 8
Match odds: H 6-5 A 12-5 D 11-5
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)

Everton (6) v West Ham (9)

Everton defender Tony Hibbert could feature after missing two games with a neck injury. Hibbert’s fellow defender Lars Jacobsen and midfielder Leon Osman, who were substitutes last week against Tottenham after injuries, have also been fully involved in training this week.

West Ham striker Carlton Cole returns after recovering from a groin injury. Kieron Dyer (hamstring), Scott Parker (groin) and James Collins (calf) miss out. Danny Gabbidon (back/stomach) will return to full training next week, while Dean Ashton (ankle) and Valon Behrami (knee) are out for the rest of the season.

Last season: Everton 1 West Ham 1, West Ham 0 Everton 2
Last five league matches: Everton D D L W D; West Ham L D L W L
Top scorers: Marouane Fellaini & Tim Cahill (Everton) 9; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 11
Match odds: H 3-4 A 4-1 D 12-5
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

Manchester United (1) v Arsenal (4)

Carlos Tevez, fresh from goals against Manchester City and Wigan, will hope for a starting berth for Manchester United, as will experienced duo Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville. Darren Fletcher is virtually certain to start knowing he must sit out the Champions League final. Rio Ferdinand (calf) is definitely out.

Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin is fit again following a virus but goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (ankle) will miss out. Long-term absentee Tomas Rosicky is back in training, but will not play again this season. Full-back Gael Clichy (back), William Gallas (knee) and striker Eduardo (groin) are all sidelined.

Last season: Man Utd 2 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 2 Man Utd 2
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W W W; Arsenal W D W W L
Top scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 26; Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 18
Match odds: H 4-6 A 9-2 D 5-2
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Middlesbrough (19) v Aston Villa (5)

David Wheater will return to action after a knee injury. Captain Emanuel Pogatetz (knee), defender Chris Riggott (ankle), striker Afonso Alves (metatarsal) and midfielder Didier Digard (groin) will all be missing however.

Aston Villa expect midfielder Gareth Barry to recover from illness. Full-back Luke Young hopes to feature despite suffering a recurrence of his foot problem against Fulham last weekend. Centre-back Carlos Cuellar will return to the squad if he can prove his fitness after a virus.

Last season: Aston Villa 1 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 0 Aston Villa 3
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough W D L L L; Aston Villa D D D W L
Top scorers: Afonso Alves, Marlon King & Tuncay Sanli (Middlesbrough) 7; John Carew (Aston Villa) 14
Match odds: H 13-8 A 13-8 D 23-10
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)

Newcastle (17) v Fulham (7)

Jose Enrique has been ruled out for Newcastle with the hamstring injury which has sidelined him for the last two games, while midfielder Alan Smith is rated at only 50-50 as he battles a thigh problem. Obafemi Martins did not train yesterday but is expected to be fit as the Magpies attempt to nurse him through a groin injury, while Joey Barton is suspended.

Fulham strikers Andrew Johnson (knee) and Bobby Zamora (hip) return, but midfielder Giles Barnes is missing because of an Achilles injury.

Last season: Newcastle 2 Fulham 0, Fulham 0 Newcastle 1 ~
Last five league matches: Newcastle D L D L W; Fulham W D W L W
Top scorers: Michael Owen (Newcastle) 10; Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 10
Match odds: H 10-11 A 29-10 D 5-2
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

Stoke (12) v Wigan (11)

On-loan striker Henri Camara is sidelined as Stoke face his parent club. Manager Tony Pulis could name an unchanged side, with full-back Andy Wilkinson likely to be involved. He has had sugar injections as a remedy for a slight back strain.

Wigan goalkeeper Richard Kingson continues to deputise for the injured Chris Kirkland. Midfielder Michael Brown is a slight doubt but Paul Scharner is expected to start despite a minor knock. On-loan striker Amr Zaki is not fit but Mido could be recalled.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Stoke D W L L W; Wigan L L D L L
Top scorers: James Beattie (Stoke) 18; Amr Zaki (Wigan) 11
Match odds: H 6-5 A 12-5 D 11-5
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)

Tottenham (8) v Manchester City (10)

Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon is ruled out after failing to recover from a groin injury. Darren Bent, Michael Dawson and Jamie O’Hara are all sidelined after injury problems, while Wilson Palacios is unavailable following the death of his brother. Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Didier Zokora are fit again and Ledley King will play.

Shaun Wright-Phillips could be on the substitutes’ bench for Manchester City after a month on the sidelines with a knee injury. Robinho (groin) is definitely out, which could mean a starting berth for Martin Petrov.

Last season: Man City 2 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 2 Man City 1
Last five league matches: Tottenham W W L W D; Man City L W W W L
Top scorers: Darren Bent (Tottenham) 17; Robinho (Man City) 15
Match odds: H 5-6 A 10-3 D 5-2
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

Sunday, May 17th

Chelsea (3) v Blackburn (14)

Chelsea are likely to be without Salomon Kalou (ankle), while Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti are also doubtful as they are suffering from ‘flu. Midfielder Deco and centre-back Ricardo Carvalho are likely to miss out as they have not fully recovered from hamstring problems.

Blackburn defender Andre Ooijer is available after recovering from a hamstring injury. Strikers Roque Santa Cruz (knee) and Jason Roberts (fractured metatarsal) are again ruled out.

Last season: Blackburn 0 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 0 Blackburn 0
Last five league matches: Chelsea W D W W W; Blackburn L L W L W
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 23; Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 13
Match odds: H 3-10 A 10-1 D 4-1
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)

West Brom (20) v Liverpool (2)

West Brom goalkeeper Scott Carson is hoping to return after missing last weekend’s win against Wigan with a hand injury but may struggle to displace Dean Kiely. Midfielder Graham Dorrans will miss the remaining two games of the season due to a broken foot, however left-back Paul Robinson and Robert Koren are back in contention. James Morrison (heel) and central defender Abdoulaye Meite (hamstring) miss out.

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso will return from an ankle injury, and Fernando Torres will also feature despite recent concerns over his hamstring problems. Javier Mascherano has also shaken off an ankle problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom D L W L W; Liverpool W D W W W
Top scorers: Chris Brunt (West Brom) 8; Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 23
Match odds: H 7-1 A 4-11 D 19-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Monday, May 18th

Portsmouth (15) v Sunderland (16)

Manager Paul Hart could rest some senior men if weekend defeats for Hull and Newcastle guarantee Portsmouth’s top-flight safety. Noe Pamarot is available again after suspension while on-loan Armand Traore has recovered from a groin problem and could make his first appearance since Hart took charge in February.

Sunderland full-back George McCartney could return to the squad after missing six games with a calf injury. Kenwyne Jones and Kieran Richardson (both ankle), and Teemu Tainio (knee), are all expected to shake off minor knocks, but Craig Gordon (knee) and Nyron Nosworthy (hamstring) will not play again this season.

Last season: Portsmouth 1 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 2 Portsmouth 0
Last five league matches: Portsmouth W L D L L; Sunderland L W L L D
Top scorers: Peter Crouch (Portsmouth) 16; Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 11
Match odds: H 6-5 A 5-2 D 21-10
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)