Premier League Weekend Team News

A round-up of team news ahead of this weekend's Premier League fixtures.

In the dying seconds of the first half...

Chelsea vs Wigan

Blues captain John Terry is out after suffering knee inflammation. Goalkeeper Petr Cech (finger) and Demba Ba (broken nose) are expected to be fit, with the striker in line to play with a protective face mask, while Eden Hazard is available after suspension. David Luiz is available following a calf injury, meaning only John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses, who are at the African Nations Cup with Nigeria, and long-term absentee Oriol Romeu (knee) are out.

Wigan captain Gary Caldwell is rated at 50/50 to be fit, after pulling out of Scotland's midweek friendly with a recurrence of a hip problem. Fellow centre-back Antolin Alcaraz is still edging his way back from a groin problem, Emmerson Boyce and Adrian Lopez are nursing hamstring injuries but Ivory Coast striker Arouna Kone has returned from the African Nations Cup and is fit, if a little underweight according to Martinez.

Norwich vs Fulham

Norwich boss Chris Hughton describes midfielders Anthony Pilkington (hamstring) and Alex Tettey (knee) as "touch and go" but defender Ryan Bennett is fit again and Hughton reported a clean bill of health after his players returned from the midweek internationals. Loan signing striker Kei Kamara lacks match practice following his move from Sporting Kansas City and Hughton will delay assessing whether he might feature.

Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov faces a fitness test on his hamstring - Urby Emanuelson could make his first start if the Bulgarian misses out. Steve Sidwell (knee) and Kieran Richardson (calf) are available again, new signings Stanislav Manolev and Eyong Enoh are unlikely to feature after being made to wait for their work permits, while Mahamadou Diarra (both knee) and Kerim Frei (pelvis) remain sidelined.

Southampton vs Man City

Saints left-back Luke Shaw is a doubt with a ligament issue, while fellow full-back Nathaniel Clyne may also be unavailable. Jose Fonte is out and Gaston Ramirez and Guly do Prado may join him, Adam Lallana could return after a knee injury and January acquisition Vegard Forren is set for his debut.

Yaya Toure will return to City's line-up - he, and brother Kolo, are back at City earlier than expected after Ivory Coast failed to get past the last eight of the African Nations Cup. Skipper Vincent Kompany could also be back after calf trouble.

Stoke vs Reading

New signing Brek Shea is eligible and Stoke boss Tony Pulis will now assess the fitness of the 22-year-old United States winger, who has been recovering from foot surgery. Full-back Marc Wilson may be involved after he made his playing comeback from a broken leg in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Tuesday.

Royals forward Noel Hunt is back in contention after an unspecified injury. Boss Brian McDermott hopes Jamaica trio Adrian Mariappa, Jobi McAnuff and Garath McCleary return unscathed from international duty but experienced striker Jason Roberts (hip) and goalkeeper Alex McCarthy (shoulder) remain sidelined.

Sunderland vs Arsenal

Sunderland winger James McClean is unlikely to feature after injuring his ankle on Republic of Ireland duty in midweek. This match could come too soon for midfielder Lee Cattermole (knee), despite his return to training, although defender Carlos Cuellar could be back from the hamstring problem which has sidelined him since January 5.

Gunners defender Laurent Koscielny faces a fitness test on his calf injury but captain Thomas Vermaelen (ankle) is out. Midfielders Aaron Ramsey (calf) and Francis Coquelin (hamstring) should be available, along with England forward Theo Walcott (foot). Ivory Coast forward Gervinho is back from the African Nations Cup but is not yet expected to feature. Left-back Kieran Gibbs remains out with a thigh problem.

Swansea vs QPR

Swans goalkeeper Michel Vorm is set to return after a knee problem and Kemy Agustien is back in training after an ankle problem - but this game is likely to come a too soon for the midfielder. Neil Taylor (broken leg) remains sidelined and Leon Britton is doubtful with a knee injury.

QPR striker Loic Remy suffered a groin strain prior to last weekend's draw with Norwich but has recovered well and could be involved tomorrow. Junior Hoilett is out with a hamstring complaint, while fellow midfielder Samba Diakite is still away with Mali at the African Nations Cup.

Tottenham vs Newcastle

Spurs will test Emmanuel Adebayor's fitness before deciding whether he goes straight back in to the starting line-up - Adebayor has been at the African Nations Cup for almost a month but boss Andre Villas-Boas hopes he will come through today's training session as his only other recognised striker, Jermain Defoe, is out with an ankle injury. Knee injuries sideline midfielder Sandro and defender Younes Kaboul.

Midfielder Cheick Tiote could return to the Newcastle squad after African Nations Cup duty with Ivory Coast but Hatem Ben Arfa's return from a hamstring problem has been delayed by a virus which has cost him a week's training and he is unlikely to be ready for selection until the end of the month.

Aston Villa vs West Ham

Fabian Delph is in the squad after ankle trouble, while Karim El Ahmadi is fit after a knee problem. Villa boss Paul Lambert will check on fellow midfielder Ashley Westwood, who is suffering from illness, but hopes of a return for defender Richard Dunne have been dashed by a recurrence of his groin problem.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has no fresh injury concerns. Defenders James Collins (hamstring) and George McCartney (knee) are still out but all the Hammers' internationals returned from midweek duty unscathed. Modibo Maiga is back at the club following African Nations Cup duty with Mali but is unlikely to feature.

Man Utd vs Everton

Ashley Young returns to the Manchester United squad after a five-match absence with a knee injury, while Phil Jones (shingles) and Michael Carrick (hip) have both recovered from the problems which prevented them reporting for international duty this week.

Everton boss David Moyes is optimistic midfielder Marouane Fellaini will have recovered from a hip injury in time to feature. Phil Jagielka is expected to be involved despite sitting out England's 2-1 victory against Brazil, while fellow defenders Seamus Coleman (thigh) and Tony Hibbert (calf) remain sidelined.

Liverpool vs West Brom

Reds striker Daniel Sturridge will be assessed over the weekend to determine whether he is fit enough to feature - the England international pulled out of the friendly against Brazil with a thigh problem. Winger Raheem Sterling, who also withdrew from international duty, is fit while new signing Philippe Coutinho has had his first week of training after his move from Inter Milan but may require more time.

West Brom left-back Goran Popov starts a three-match ban but midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu is in contention to return to the starting line-up for the first time since January 1 after returning to training this week following a knee problem. Head coach Steve Clarke has to decide whether to recall striker Peter Odemwingie, after the collapse of his transfer deadline day move to QPR and subsequent apology.



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