Premier League team news

A look ahead to all the weekend's soccer action cross-channel.

A look ahead to all the weekend's soccer action cross-channel.

Saturday

Arsenal (1) v Wigan Athletic (19)

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas is suspended while Belarus winger Alexander Hleb (hamstring) is facing around three weeks on the sidelines. Mathieu Flamini (thigh), Abou Diaby (back) and Gilberto (travel fatigue) are also set to miss out but centre back Philippe Senderos is fit again.

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Emile Heskey is set to return to the Wigan squad for the first time since September after a long lay-off with a broken foot.

Last season: Arsenal 2 Wigan 1; Wigan 0 Arsenal 1. Last five league matches: Arsenal W W D D W; Wigan L L L L L. Top scorers: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 11; Marcus Bent (Wigan) 4. Match odds: H 1-7 A 14-1 D 9-2. Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Birmingham City (15) v Portsmouth (6)

Mikael Forssell could be poised for his first start for more than two months after last appearing in the starting line-up for the 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough in September. But he impressed when scoring as a substitute against Aston Villa and may replace Cameron Jerome who is recovering after a hernia operation.

John Utaka has recovered from a hamstring injury but Nigeria team-mate Kanu (hamstring) is a major doubt. Midfielder Papa Bouba Diop returns after a one-match ban with Portsmouth reverting to his preferred 4-5-1 formation.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Birmingham L L W L L; Portsmouth W W D W D. Top scorers: Olivier Kapo (Birmingham) 5; Benjani Mwaruwari (Portsmouth) 8. Match odds: H 8-5 A 7-5 D 21-10. Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Bolton (18) v Manchester Utd (2)

Top scorer Nicolas Anelka returns after a hamstring injury. Manager Gary Megson has no major injury concerns from the international break and can also bring back El-Hadji Diouf following a one-match ban.

Defender Nemanja Vidic is the only doubt after the Serbian picked up a knock on international duty. His absence could see Wes Brown start at centre half alongside Rio Ferdinand.

Last season: Man Utd 4 Bolton 1; Bolton 0 Man Utd 4. Last five league matches: Bolton L L D D D; Man Utd W W W D W. Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Bolton) 7; Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 10. Match odds: H 11-2 A 4-9 D 13-5 Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Derby County (20) v Chelsea (4)

Defenders Claude Davis and Dean Leacock have been passed fit after both were injured for the last game, a 5-0 home defeat to West Ham. Striker Kenny Miller has recovered from a hamstring problem.

Central defender Ricardo Carvalho is out for four weeks with a back injury but England captain John Terry is fit again and will play as long as he comes through a training session. Striker Didier Drogba sustained a knee injury on international duty and could miss out.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Derby L D L L L; Chelsea W W W W D. Top scorers: Kenny Miller (Derby) 5; Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 7, Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 7. Match odds: H 7-1 A 2-7 D 7-2. Referee: Andre Marriner (Midlands).

Everton (9) v Sunderland (16)

Midfielder Mikel Arteta is hoping to have recovered sufficiently from a groin injury to be involved. Tim Cahill, who missed Australia's game last week to recover from "bumps and bruises", also could be included.

Midfielder Dwight Yorke could resume after the calf injury which has sidelined him for the last four matches, while Dean Whitehead (knee) and Andy Cole (also calf) are back in contention after long lay-offs.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Everton L L W W D; Sunderland L L D L D. Top scorers: Joleon Lescott (Everton) 5; Kenwyne Jones (Sunderland) 5. Match odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 23-10. Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Manchester City (3) v Reading (12)

Striker Rolando Bianchi is out after suffering an ankle injury in training. Andreas Isaksson has been promised the goalkeeping berth by Eriksson, while Richard Dunne should be fit to partner Micah Richards in central defence.

Defender Michael Duberry is out as he recovers from cracked ribs, joining long-term casualty Glen Little (Achilles) on the sideline. Defender Ibrahima Sonko has been passed fit to play following treatment for a groin problem.

Last season: Man City 0 Reading 2; Reading 1 Man City 0. Last five league matches: Man City W W L W D; Reading W L W L L. Top scorers: Elano (Man City) 5; Dave Kitson (Reading) 4, Kevin Doyle (Reading) 4. Match odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 23-10. Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset).

Middlesbrough (17) v Aston Villa (8)

Defender Jonathan Woodgate is back in contention after missing the club's last two games, while Andrew Taylor (foot), Robert Huth (ankle) and Fabio Rochemback (hamstring) may also be involved.

Strikers Gabriel Agbonlahor (knee) and Luke Moore (groin) are expected to be fit. Goalkeeper Scott Carson is expected to keep his place despite his glaring error against Croatia.

Last season: Middlesbrough 1 Aston Villa 3; Aston Villa 1 Middlesbrough 1. Last five league matches: Middlesbrough L L L D D; Aston Villa W L D W W. Top scorers: Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough) 3; Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 5. Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 21-10. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).

Newcastle Utd (11) v Liverpool (5)

Michael Owen (thigh) and Steven Taylor (back) are both out, while Abdoulaye Faye and Stephen Carr (both hamstring) and Claudio Cacapa (knee) are still missing. Shay Given (groin) is fit and Nicky Butt is available after suspension.

Striker Fernando Torres is expected to be restored to the starting line-up having built up his fitness after an adductor injury. Centre back Daniel Agger may also return after a two-month absence with a broken metatarsal.

Last season: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 1; Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0. Last five league matches: Newcastle W W L L D; Liverpool D W D D W. Top scorers: Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 5; Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 8. Match odds: H 23-10 A 19-20 D 9-4. Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Sunday

Fulham (13) v Blackburn Rovers (7)

Defender Moritz Volz is unlikely to feature despite a return to training after shoulder and groin problems. Paul Konchesky and Elliott Omozusi are available again after suspension.

Robbie Savage is set to complete his rapid comeback from a knee operation but striker Matt Derbyshire faces a late test on a thigh injury.

Last season: Fulham 1 Blackburn 1; Blackburn 2 Fulham 0. Last five league matches: Fulham L D D W L; Blackburn W W W D L. Top scorers: David Healy (Fulham) 4, Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 4; Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 8. Match odds: H 8-5 A 7-5 D 21-10 Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

West Ham Utd (10) v Tottenham (14)

Dean Ashton (knee), Scott Parker (knee), Mark Noble (hernia) and Hayden Mullins (ankle) are all in contention after recovering from their respective injuries.

Gareth Bale (foot) has been back in training and could return, although Ledley King (knee), Ricardo Rocha (ankle), Anthony Gardner (ankle) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) are sidelined.

Last season: West Ham 3 Tottenham 4; Tottenham 1 West Ham 0. Last five league matches: West Ham L W D D W; Tottenham D L L D W. Top scorers: Craig Bellamy (West Ham) 4, Lee Bowyer (West Ham) 4; Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 10. Match odds: H 7-5 A 8-5 D 21-10. Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).