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Arsenal v Aston Villa

Want-away Ashley Cole will not be included in Arsenal's squad despite the player insisting he is available. Winger Jose Antonio Reyes and midfielder Tomas Rosicky (both groin) miss out, but midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has been rushed back from an ankle injury.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill is without Milan Baros (foot), Wilfred Bouma (hamstring) and Gary Cahill (knee). Steven Davis travels, but will undergo a fitness test on a thigh injury.

Last season: Arsenal 5 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 0. Last five league matches: Arsenal W D W W W; Aston Villa W L L L W. Match odds: H 2-7 A 7-1 D 7-2. Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

Bolton v Tottenham

Kevin Davies (ankle), Nicky Hunt (knee) and Quinton Fortune (groin) are expected to feature for Bolton. Ricardo Gardner (knee), Henrik Pedersen (Achilles), Abdoulaye Faye and Joey O'Brien (both knee) miss out.

Tottenham's Martin Jol is sweating on the fitness of Robbie Keane (thigh). Midfielder Teemu Tainio is out (ankle) and defender Anthony Gardner is a doubt (groin). Ledley King is unavailable due to knee surgery.

Last season: Tottenham 1 Bolton 0, Bolton 1 Tottenham 0. Last five league matches: Bolton D W L D W; Tottenham W L D W L. Match Odds: H 8-5 A 7-5 D 21-10. Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Everton v Watford

Everton striker Andrew Johnson, defender Joleon Lescott and on-loan goalkeeper Tim Howard are expected to start. Full back Tony Hibbert is recovering from illness and will miss out, with Phil Neville likely to fill in.

Jay DeMerit has recovered from an ankle injury to take his place in Watford's squad. Manager Adrian Boothroyd could hand debuts to summer signings Chris Powell, Damien Francis, Dan Shittu, Tamas Priskin and Albert Jarrett.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Everton L L D W D; Watford D D W W D. Match Odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 23-10. Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).

Newcastle v Wigan

Newcastle have received a triple Irish injury boost, with goalkeeper Shay Given (back), full back Stephen Carr (hamstring) and midfielder Damien Duff (groin) all passed fit. Only Michael Owen (knee) and Kieron Dyer (hamstring) remain on the casualty list.

Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland makes his Wigan debut after arriving from Liverpool on a six-month loan. Fitz Hall, Denny Landzaat, Emerson Boyce and £5.5 million record signing Emile Heskey are also included by boss Paul Jewell.

Last season: Newcastle 3 Wigan 1, Wigan 1 Newcastle 0. Last five league matches: Newcastle W W W D W; Wigan L W L L L. Match Odds: H 8-11 A 100-30 D 11-5. Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Portsmouth v Blackburn

New signings Sol Campbell, Glen Johnson, David James and Kanu are set to start, with fellow new recruit David Thompson on the bench - where untried 17-year-old Nick Jordan is the only available cover for James in the absence of Dean Kiely (thigh) and Jamie Ashdown (broken thumb).

Mark Hughes could be without four key Blackburn players - Ryan Nelsen (hamstring) and Brett Emerton (calf), while midfielder Tugay starts a three-match ban following his dismissal in the final game of last season. Steven Reid is doubtful with an ankle injury.

Last season: Portsmouth 2 Blackburn 2, Blackburn 2 Portsmouth 1. Last five league matches: Portsmouth W L W W L; Blackburn L L W W W. Match Odds: H 6-5 A 15-8 D 21-10. Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

Reading v Middlesbrough

Reading will be without winger Glen Little, who has been ruled out by a hamstring injury, joining broken ankle victim Aaron Brown on the sidelines.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is confident England winger Stewart Downing will be fit after returning from international duty against Greece with a dead leg.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Reading W D W D W; Middlesbrough W L D D L. Match Odds: H 5-4 A 9-5 D 21-10. Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).

Sheffield United v Liverpool

United defender Leigh Bromby has been declared fit after his long battle with a knee ligament problem and may replace record summer signing Claude Davis, who is out with a knee injury of his own. Striker Steve Kabba misses out with a hamstring strain.

Robbie Fowler and Stephen Warnock came through a friendly at Lincoln on Wednesday to prove their fitness after minor injuries, while only Harry Kewell (groin) is definitely out for Liverpool. The club are still awaiting Dirk Kuyt's international clearance.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Sheff Utd W W D D W; Liverpool W W W W W. Match Odds: H 9-2 A 8-15 D 5-2. Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).

West Ham v Charlton

West Ham striker Dean Ashton is out until at least mid-November after breaking his ankle, while winger Matthew Etherington (knee) plus new signings Jonathan Spector (shoulder), Robert Green (groin) and George McCartney (ankle) are all unavailable.

Charlton goalkeeper Scott Carson, centre half Gonzalo Sorondo and striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink look set to start, while Andy Reid, Djimi Traore and Amady Faye could make the squad.

Winger Cristian Bolanos is awaiting a work permit, while young striker James Walker (ankle) remains doubtful.

Last season: West Ham 0 Charlton 0, Charlton 2 West Ham 0. Last five league matches: West Ham W L L W W; Charlton L W L L L. Match Odds: H 10-11 A 13-5 D 21-10. Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).

Tomorrow

Chelsea v Manchester City

Petr Cech, Robert Huth and Joe Cole are out for Chelsea and Michael Ballack is unlikely to overcome his hip injury in time to play. Claude Makelele and Geremi are also unlikely to shake off muscle strains, with the injuries leaving Jose Mourinho to decide whether to recall defender William Gallas.

City look certain to be without Dietmar Hamann and Andy Cole. Hamann has failed to recover from a foot problem picked up on City's recent tour of China, while Cole is struggling to recover from a knee problem.

Last season: Chelsea 2 Man City 0, Man City 0 Chelsea 1. Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W L L; Man City L W L L L. Match Odds: H 1-5 A 10-1 D 4-1. Referee: S Bennett (Kent).

Manchester United v Fulham

Wayne Rooney (groin) is fit to play, but is suspended for United's next three games. Gabriel Heinze and Nemanja Vidic are ruled out with knee injuries, new signing Michael Carrick (ankle) is still a week away from a return to training while Alan Smith continues his recovery from a horror double leg break.

Calf injuries keep out Cottagers midfielders Claus Jensen and Simon Elliott. Jensen could recover in time for Bolton next Wednesday.

Last season: Man Utd 4 Fulham 2, Fulham 2 Man Utd 3. Last five league matches: Man Utd D W L D W; Fulham W W W L W. Match Odds: H 2-9 A 17-2 D 4-1. Referee: A Marriner (W Midlands).

Scottish Premier League

Rangers v Hearts

Rangers could hand a debut to defender Phil Bardsley, who joined from Manchester United this week. Captain Barry Ferguson is still out with a heel injury, while goalkeeper Stefan Klos (shoulder) will also be absent.

Hearts midfielder Paul Hartley returns to the squad after a groin injury. New signing Marius Zaliukas is also included in Valdas Ivanauskas' 20-man squad.

Last season: Rangers 2 Hearts 0, Hearts 1 Rangers 1, Rangers 1 Hearts 0, Hearts 1 Rangers 0. Last five league matches: Rangers W W W D D; Hearts W L W W D. Top scorers: Chris Burke, Thomas Buffel, Dado Prso & Libor Sionko (Rangers) 1, Roman Bednar (Hearts) 4. Match Odds: H 8-11 A 16-5 D 9-4. Referee: K Clark (Scotland).

Inverness CT v Celtic

Inverness manager Charlsie Christie has a clean bill of health as he bids to keep up his team's good record against Celtic in tomorrow's sell-out clash.

Celtic skipper Neil Lennon missed last week's victory over St Mirren with a hamstring injury and has failed to recover. Stilian Petrov (knee) and Maciej Zurawski (leg) also missed training yesterday having returned from international duty injured.

Last season: Celtic 2 Inverness CT 1, Inverness CT 1 Celtic 1, Celtic 2 Inverness CT 1. Last five league matches: Inverness CT W W L D D; Celtic W D W L W. Top scorers: C Dargo & B Wilson (Inverness CT) 1, S Petrov & M Zurawski (Celtic) 2. Match Odds: H 7-1 A 30-100 D 100-30. Referee: C Thomson (Scotland).