Saturday 09th February 2013
Barclays Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United (kick off 12:45)
Emmanuel Adebayor will face the wrath of the Spurs’ physio to assess if he’s ready for the Premier League after a month away on international duty. Spurs other senior striker Jermain Defoe is out with an ankle injury and will waych from the stands alongside Sandro and Younes Kaboul.
Cheick Tiote is back in the Newcastle squad after his international stint away, but Hatem Ben Arfa’s hamstring will keep him out of the travelling squad – he also has a virus.
Chelsea v Wigan Athletic (kick off 15:00)
Chelsea will be without captain Jon Terry who’s suffering from some inflammation of hhis knee. However, the Blues can welcome back ‘keeper Petr Cech, Demba Ba and David Luiz while Eden Hazard has competed his suspension. Long-term absentee Oriol Romeu is still out (knee) and John Obi Mikel Victor Moses are still on international duty with Nigeria.
Wigan captain Gary Caldwell is struggling with a hip injury and Arouna Kone is on international duty and available for selection. Antolin Alcaraz is still working his way back to full fitness and Emmerson Boyce and Adrian Lopez are out with hamstring injuries.
Norwich City v Fulham (kick off 15:00)
Norwich midfielders Alex Tettey and Anthony Pilkington will face late fitness tests on knee and hamstring injuries respectively but boss Chris Hughton can recall Ryan Bennett. New signing Kei Kamara will have his fitness assessed but could make the matchday squad.
Fulham will assess Dimitar Berbatov’s fitness nearer kick off time as the striker is struggling with a hasmtring injury. If he doesn’t get the nod, then Urby Emanuelson will get to start. Steve Sidwell and Kieran Richardson are both back in contention but work permit delays mean new signings Eyong Enoh and Stanislav Manolev will have to wait for their debuts. Long-term casualties Mahamadou Diarra and Kerim Frei remain sidelined.
Stoke City v Reading (kick off 15:00)
New Stoke signing Brek Shea should make his debut after being declared fit and he could be joined in the matchday squad by Marc Wilson who has recovered from a broken leg.
Reading can recall striker Noel Hunt after injury and Adrian Mariappa, Jobi McAnuff and Garath McCleary have returned from international duty. Jason Roberts (hip) and Alex McCarthy (shoulder) will not be travelling.
Sunderland v Arsenal (kick off 15:00)
James McClean injured his ankle while on international duty midweek and will miss Sunderland’s hosting of Arsenal. Lee Cattermole and Carlos Cuellar will both be assessed nearer kick off but are not expected to be considered for selection.
Arsenal will be without captain Thomas Vermaelen who is absent with an ankle injury. Aaron Ramsey and Francis Coquelin are both back in the travelling squad but Laurent Koscielny’s participation hinges on a fitness test. Theo Walcott should return from a foot problem and Gervinho has returned from international duty but is expected to be rested while Kieran Gibbs remains on the casualty list.
Swansea City v QPR (kick off 15:00)
Swansea should be able to recall ‘keeper Michel Vorm but definite absentees are Kemy Augustien, Neil Taylor and Leon Britton.
QPR’s new striker Loic Remy has recovered from a groin strain and is available for selection but Junior Hoilett is out with a strung hamstring. Samba Diakite is away on international duty with Mali.
Southampton v Manchester City (kick off 17:30)
Full-backs Nathaniel Clyne and Luke Shaw are both struggling with minor problems but Jose Fonte is a definite absentee. Gaston Ramirez and and Guly do Prado will face fitness tests while Adam Lallana is almost ready for a return to first team action. New signing Vegard Forren is set to start and make his Saints debut.
Manchester City can throw Toures Kolo and Yaya back into the starting line-up after the brothers returned from the African Cup of Nations. Captain Vincent Kompany should have shrugged off a calf injury in time for kick off.
Sunday 10th February 2013
Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa v West Ham (kick off 13:30)
Fabian Delph is included in the Aston Villa squad after shaking off an ankle problem and joins Kerim El Ahmadi, who has recovered from a knee issue. Ashley Westwood will face a fitness assessment after an illness but Richard Dunne remains out with a groin strain.
West Ham are again without James Collins and George McCartney but Modibo Maiga will not be considered for this fixture after only just rerurning from international duty.
Manchester United v Everton (kick off 16:00)
Ashley Young is back in the Manchester United squad and will be joined by Phil Jones and Michael Carrick, who’ve both shrugged off illness and injury.
Everton’s Marouane Fellaini is struggling with a hip injury but Seamus Coleman and Tony Hibbert are definite casualties.
