Reading: Striker Shane Long is doubtful after
returning from international duty with the Republic of Ireland with
an ankle problem. Fellow forward and Republic cap Kevin Doyle could
rejoin the squad for the first time since suffering a hamstring
injury at Everton last month. James Harper has had stitches in a
foot wound suffered at Manchester City last week but is expected to
keep his place.
Squad: Hahnemann, Federici, Murty, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Duberry,
Sodje, Shorey, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Gunnarsson, Oster, Hunt,
Lita, Long, Kitson, Seol, Halford, De la Cruz, Convey, Doyle.
Aston Villa: Defender Wilfred Bouma is a major
doubt for with an ankle injury suffered while on international duty
for Holland in midweek and was unable to train on Friday. If he is
ruled out, skipper Gareth Barry is expected to switch to left-back
with either Patrik Berger or Steven Davis replacing him in
midfield. Gabriel Agbonlahor is expected to shake off the calf
injury which ruled him out of Englands Under-21 game with Spain.
Striker Luke Moore is recalled to the squad after recovering from
his shoulder problem and netting twice for the reserves in
midweek.
Squad: Sorensen, Taylor, Bardsley, Hughes, Mellberg, Cahill,
Laursen, Ridgewell, Bouma, Samuel, Agbonlahor, Petrov, McCann,
Barry, Davis, Berger, Young, Carew, Maloney.
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Everton: The Blues will be without Leon Osman
after the midfielder picked up a fifth booking of the season
against Liverpool last weekend. Loan signing Manuel Fernandes has
the chance of making his debut, having been an unused substitute in
the Merseyside derby. Everton have gone three games unbeaten since
they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Blackburn at Goodison Park
last month, and will be looking for revenge after that 4-1
mauling.
Squad: Howard, Hibbert, Lescott, Stubbs, Yobo, Naysmith, Arteta,
Carsley, Cahill, Fernandes, Neville, Beattie, Johnson, Vaughan,
Anichebe, Wright, Van der Meyde.
Blackburn: Morten Gamst Pedersen will miss out
after picking up a hamstring injury on international duty with
Norway that will rule him out for at least a week. Rovers boss Mark
Hughes must also cope without new boy Stephen Warnock following his
sending-off against Sheffield United last week, but Andy Todd
should be available to return after recovering from illness.
Pedersens absence could mean start for the recently returned David
Dunn, while Switzerland international Bruno Berner is also pushing
to replace Warnock in the starting line-up.
Squad: Friedel, Henchoz, Khizanishvili, Emerton, Samba, Todd, Dunn,
Bentley, Mokoena, Tugay, Nelsen, Roberts, McCarthy, Nonda, Brown,
Berner, Gallagher, Peter
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Sheff Utd: Rob Kozluk faces a late fitness test on
a knock but will be given as long as possible to recover. Egypt
midfielder Ahmed Fathi is pushing for a starting place after an
impressive goalscoring display against Sweden in midweek but
striker Christian Nade (virus) is a doubt and winger Keith
Gillespie is suspended. Centre-back Matt Kilgallon and striker
Luton Shelton are still a couple of weeks away from full fitness,
as is Mikele Leigertwood after his ankle problem.
Squad: Kenny, Davis, Jagielka, Kozluk, Tonge, Armstrong, Morgan,
Bromby, A Quinn, S Quinn, Montgomery, Fathi, Webber, Hulse, Law,
Nade, Kazim-Richards, Geary, Lucketti, Seck, Bennett.
Tottenham: Aaron Lennon and Jermaine Jenas are
expected to return. Both missed Englands friendly defeat against
Spain this week, Lennon with mild gastritis and Jenas after taking
a knock to the ankle which has troubled him this season. Teemu
Tainio is back in contention after an ankle injury and a throat
infection, while skipper Ledley King (foot) is out for at least
another five weeks. Hossam Ghaly is suspended but Mido returns from
a ban.
Squad: Robinson, Cerny, Alnwick, Chimbonda, Stalteri, Lee,
Assou-Ekotto, Rocha, Dawson, Gardner, Zokora, Huddlestone, Lennon,
Malbranque, Murphy, Tainio, Jenas, Berbatov, Defoe, Keane,
Mido.
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West Ham: Boss Alan Curbishley could be boosted by
the return of defenders Lucas Neill and Anton Ferdinand for their
relegation battle with Watford. Ferdinand is back in full training
after the groin injury which has kept him out of the last two
games, while Neill, who damaged ankle ligaments on his debut
against Watford in the FA Cup defeat two weeks ago, could also make
it in time. West Ham will be without new signing Matthew Upson, who
is expected to be sidelined for three weeks with a calf
injury.
Squad: Carroll, Green, Spector, Davenport, Ferdinand, Neill,
Dailly, McCartney, Benayoun, Reo-Coker, Quashie, Boa Morte,
Etherington, Zamora, Blanco, Harewood, Tevez, Mullins.
Watford: Clarke Carlisle is back in full training
for Watford after a thigh injury - but will not be considered.
Marlon King (knee) and James Chambers (ankle) remain sidelined with
long-term injuries. But Dan Shittu should continue despite recent
ankle trouble, as the rock-bottom Hornets seek a victory which will
close the gap on their relegation rivals.
Squad: Foster, Lee, Mariappa, DeMerit, Doyley, Powell, Mackay,
Shittu, Smith, Bangura, Francis, Stewart, Williamson, Mahon,
Williams, Bouazza, McNamee, Henderson, Kabba, Hoskins, Ashikodi,
Priskin.
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Portsmouth: Boss Harry Redknapp will be forced to
reshuffle his back four with Glen Johnson the leading candidate to
replace injured Linvoy Primus (thigh) at centre-half. With Djimi
Traore (ankle) and Noe Pamarot (groin) doubtful and skipper Dejan
Stefanovic still out, Matt Taylor is set to return to left-back,
enabling Sean Davis and Niko Kranjcar to battle for midfield
places. Pompeys David James and Andrew Cole are set to face their
old club and midfielder Gary ONeil is back after a calf injury -
winger Roudolphe Douala may have to give way.
Squad: James; Lauren, Johnson, Campbell, Taylor, ONeil, Mendes,
Davis, Kranjcar, Kanu, Cole, Benjani, LuaLua, Hughes, Douala,
Pamarot, Traore, Mvuemba, Ashdown.
Man City: Nicky Weaver and Ousmane Dabo are major
doubts. Both men look set to miss the Fratton Park clash after
limping out of last weeks home defeat by Reading, with Weaver
suffering from a hip problem and Dabo nursing an Achilles injury.
If Weaver is sidelined, Sweden World Cup star Andreas Isaksson is
in line to make his first Premiership start after being restricted
to just two substitute appearances since his £2million summer
arrival from Rennes.
Squad: Weaver, Isaksson, Richards, Sun, Dunne, Distin, Trabelsi,
Jordan, Beasley, Dabo, Hamann, Barton, Ball, Ireland, Samaras,
Vassell, Sturridge, Corradi, Abdoun, Miller.
