Premier League Weekend Team News
A round-up of team news ahead of this weekend's Premier League fixtures.
Chelsea vs West Brom
Midfielder Yossi Benayoun is out of the clash with West Brom with an ankle injury. Gary Cahill (virus) and Cesar Azpilicueta (leg) are available again after missing the midweek FA Cup win at Middlesbrough. Oriol Romeu (knee) remains a long-term absentee.
West Brom could be without their two frontline strikers. On-loan Romelu Lukaku is ineligible to face his parent club and forward partner Shane Long is a doubt with the ankle injury suffered against Sunderland. Left-back Goran Popov will complete a three- game ban for his red card against Tottenham. Head coach Steve Clarke has included 16-year-old midfielder Isaiah Brown, who is still at school, in his squad.
Everton vs Reading
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard is a slight doubt as the American sustained a knock in the midweek FA Cup fifth round replay victory over Oldham and will be assessed late on. Forward Victor Anichebe is another who may not be fit enough to return, having not played since mid-February, but midfielder Marouane Fellaini will be back after sitting out the cup match with a minor injury.
Reading will be without suspended striker Pavel Pogrebnyak after the Russia forward was sent off during last weekend's 3-0 home defeat against Wigan and will be missing for three games. Veteran striker Jason Roberts (hip) is still absent and admitted during the week he has no idea when he will be fit enough to return. Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy (shoulder) also misses out.
Man Utd vs Norwich
Robin van Persie will be in the Manchester United squad despite hurting his hip when he crashed into a TV camera at QPR. He has recovered and will come into contention to face Norwich. Ryan Giggs is set to make his 1,000th career appearance but Paul Scholes (knee) and Phil Jones (ankle) are sidelined, although the latter man could be fit for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
Norwich will again be without midfielder Alex Tettey because of a knee injury. On-loan Sporting Kansas City forward Kei Kamara is pressing for a starting spot after coming off the bench to score in the win over Everton. Winger Andrew Surman (knee) remains out, while England goalkeeper John Ruddy continues his rehabilitation from thigh surgery and is set for a return at the end of March.
Southampton vs QPR
Several Southampton players will be looking for a recall to the starting line-up. Gaston Ramirez and Jason Puncheon both came off the bench in last weekend's 4-2 loss at Newcastle. Jose Fonte was also named among the substitutes at St James' Park - his first involvement since sustaining a knee injury in the FA Cup tie against Chelsea on January 5. Recent signing Vegard Forren is still waiting for his debut.
QPR striker Bobby Zamora will miss out after picking up an ankle injury in last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United, meaning Loic Remy could start for the first time since January 29. QPR manager Harry Redknapp does not have many other injury concerns to contend with, although defender Tal Ben Haim is struggling with a hip flexor problem.
Stoke vs West Ham
Stoke centre-back Robert Huth begins a three-match ban after accepting a violent conduct charge relating to an incident in last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Fulham, where he caught Philippe Senderos in the face with his forearm. Marc Wilson or Geoff Cameron will cover in the middle of defence alongside skipper Ryan Shawcross. Midfielder Steven Nzonzi will be wearing a protective face mask if he features having broken his nose in the match at Craven Cottage, while winger Matthew Etherington (back) and striker Michael Owen (thigh) will undergo late fitness tests.
West Ham captain Kevin Nolan is out with a broken toe. Fellow midfielder Mark Noble is doubtful with an arm problem. Guy Demel is fit despite going off in the latter stages of the loss to Tottenham, while George McCartney (knee) is continuing his comeback and is unlikely to feature.
Sunderland vs Fulham
Sunderland skipper Lee Cattermole is facing several weeks on the sidelines as he attempts to recover from a knee injury. Cattermole has undergone an injection but surgery has not bee ruled out. Full-back Danny Rose is expected to return to training next week after aggravating a hamstring strain which has been treated at parent club Tottenham.
Fulham's Simon Davies has overcome a knee injury and could play his first game in almost a year. Fellow midfielders Kerim Frei and Kieran Richardson have recovered from their respective pelvis and calf injuries but Mahamadou Diarra (knee) is out. Young midfielder Buomesca Tue Na Banga and Ajax loanee Eyong Enoh are also available after knee injuries.
Swansea vs Newcastle
Michael Laudrup is set to return Ki Sung-yueng to his regular midfield role. The Korean played at centre-half in the Capital One Cup final win over Bradford, but Kyle Bartley or Garry Monk will partner Ashley Williams against the Magpies. Michel Vorm is likely to return in goal if he can shake off the flu while Neil Taylor is getting closer to a return from a broken ankle.
Newcastle could be without captain Fabricio Coloccini as he hurt his back during the 4-2 win over Southampton and is struggling to be fit. January signing Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa could take over at the back. Goalkeeper Rob Elliot will continue to deputise for Tim Krul, who is expected to be sidelined for up to five weeks by an ankle injury. Hatem Ben Arfa may travel despite being short of match fitness after recovering from a hamstring tear.
Wigan vs Liverpool
Wigan defender Antolin Alcaraz could be back in contention to start against Liverpool. The Paraguay international played for the last seven minutes of last week's win at Reading after a six-month lay-off with a groin injury. Fellow defender Emmerson Boyce also came through his comeback from hamstring trouble unscathed and winger Ryo Miyaichi (ankle) is close to returning after three months out.
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is carrying a knock and will be assessed ahead of the trip to Wigan. With no game last weekend the Reds have had plenty of time to get over any niggling problems and centre-back Martin Skrtel is fit again after a knee injury, although he is likely to be on the bench. Forward Fabio Borini (shoulder) and defender Martin Kelly (knee) are sidelined.
Tottenham vs Arsenal
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has recovered from an ankle injury. Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas must decide whether to start the striker or play Emmanuel Adebayor, who was sent off after 18 minutes of the reverse fixture in November. Younes Kaboul, Sandro and Tom Huddlestone are all absent with knee injuries while Clint Dempsey is also missing due to a calf problem.
Arsenal will be without defender Bacary Sagna because of a knee injury. Midfielder Abou Diaby is rated as 50/50 with a calf problem but defender Kieran Gibbs remains out with a thigh injury.
Aston Villa vs Man City
Aston Villa skipper Ron Vlaar is battling to overcome the calf injury which forced him out of last weekend's game at Arsenal. Vlaar was unable to train during the earlier part of the week but the Dutch international defender was able to take some part yesterday and he will be assessed over the weekend. Striker Darren Bent remains doubtful with a foot injury but keeper Shay Given has recovered from a groin problem in time to be part of the squad to face his former club.
Manchester City are again likely to be without defender and captain Vincent Kompany. The Belgium international has missed the last five games with a calf injury and looks more likely to return in the FA Cup quarter-finals against Barnsley next week. Midfielder Gareth Barry (ankle) is back in contention to face his old club but right-backs Maicon and Micah Richards (both knee) remain on the sidelines.
