Saturday 02nd February 2013
Barclays Premier League
Queens Park Rangers v Norwich City (kick off 12:45)
QPR are poised to hand out debuts like confetti this weekend. Chris Samba, Jermaine Jenas and Andros Townsend are all lacing up their boots, but Yun Suk-young won’t be considered until he has settled in a little more. Junior Hoilett has been declared fit but Jamie Mackie is out and will be sitting silently in the stands (tonsillitis).
Noriwch will be tempted to give Luciano Becchio a debut but their other big acquisition Kei Kamara is awaiting a work permit. Spurs recalled loanee Harry Kane while John Ruddy is still out with a thigh strain. Good news though surrounds Steven Whittaker – he is available again after shrugging off a hip injury.
Arsenal v Stoke City (kick off 15:00)
Kieren Gibbs is out with a thigh problem so new signing Nacho Monreal should be given his debut for Arsenal. Thomas Vermaelen is receiving intensive treatment on an ankle injury and will face a fitness test. Gervinho is still away on international duty while Francis Coquelin is struggling with a hamstring strain.
No major problems for Stoke have bee reported. Gone from the club are Rory Delap and Matthew Upson while new signings Jack Butland and Brek Shea are not with the first team yet. Marc Wilson is nearly ready for inclusion in the matchday squad but another week of training is on his agenda first.
Everton v Aston Villa (kick off 15:00)
Everton should be able to recall Darron Gibson after his recent thigh injury but definitely missing out will be Seamus Coleman (thigh) and RTony Hibbert (calf). John Stones is not expected to feature and it is rumoured that Nikica Jelavic will be reinstated in the starting XI.
Aston Villa could hand debuts to both Simon Dawkins and Yacouba Sylla – both have been included in the travelling squad. Fabian Delph will face a fitness test but definitely out is Richard Dunne.
Newcastle United v Chelsea (kick off 15:00)
Newcastle will be without HAtem Ben Arfa and Cheick Tiote (injured and international duty respectively) while new recruits Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran are in the squad. The Magpies welcome back Sylvain Marveaux back to the fold after his foot problem.
Petr Cech will be recalled by Chelsea after a calf problem and will rejoin Juan Mata in the travelling squad, who has shaken off his ankle injury. Eden Hazard is banned, Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel are away on international duty and injured duo David Luiz (calf) and Oriol Romeu (knee) are still on the sidelines.
Reading v Sunderland (kick off 15:00)
The Reading physio will be giving Noel Hunt a rigorous fitness test ahead of kick off on the striker’s minor injury but Jason Roberts is a definite absentee with a hip problem. Adam Le Fondre is pushing for a starting role after scoring twice midweek and new signing Nigel Blackman is in the squad.
New Sunderland signing Danny Graham travels for this game and could be given a starting berth. Carlos Cuellar and Danny Rose also travel after recovering from injuries but staying at home is Lee Cattermole (knee). Louis Saha has left the club by mutual consent.
West Ham United v Swansea City (kick off 15:00)
Andy Carroll continues to make good progress back from injury and could earn a spot on the West Ham bench for the visit of Swansea. However, definite absentees are George McCartney, James Collins and Dan Potts.
Swansea ‘keeper Michel Vorm is still out with a knee complaint – Gerhard Tremmel will deputise. Kemy Agustien and Neil Taylor both miss out as Michu expected to play up front on his own.
Wigan Athletic v Southampton (kick off 15:00)
Resigned defender Paul Scharner could start for Wigan after hhis loan move from Hamburg on Thursday – fellow defenders Antolin Alcaraz, Adrian Lopez and Ivan Ramis are all out. Keeper Mike Pollitt is also injured and joins Ben Watson, Albert Crusat, Ryo Miyaichi and Fraser Fyvie on the casualty list.
Adam Lallana is poised to make his comeback in the Southampton side as he has recovered from a knee injury. Jose Fonte and Guly Do Prado are both unavailable due to injury but new signing Vegard Forren could be involved.
Fulham v Manchester United (kick off 17:30)
Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov will miss out on facing his former club after twinging his hamstring. He joins Steve Sidwell, Mahamadou Diarra, Kerim Frei and Kieran Richardson in the treatment room. New loan signing Urby Emanuelson is chomping at the bit to make his Premier League debut.
Rio Ferdinand should be reinstated in the Manchester United starting line-up and Jonny Evan is also back in contention. However, Ashley Young is out with a knee problem
Sunday 03rd February 2013
Barclays Premier League
West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur (kick off 13:30)
WBA will be without Peter Odemwingie after his proposed move to QPR failed on Thursday in dramatic fashion. George Thorn is out with a knee injury but Youssouf Mulumbu is back from international duty and should feature.
Spurs recalled Harry Kane from his loan spell at Norwich and he is in the matchday squad. New signing Lewis Holtby is in line to mkake his Premier League debut and Tom Huddlestone has been passed fit after a recent leg injury. However, Emmanuel Adebayor is away on international duty while Younes Kaboul and Sandro are on the casualty list.
Manchester City v Liverpool (kick off 16:00)
Manchester City face a Liverpool side without skipper Vincent Kompany but hope that Matija Nastasic should be passed fit to start. Maicon is back in training but is not in the matchday squad while Micah Richards is still two or three weeks away from his comeback. Yaya Toure and Kolo Toure are on international duty and are unavailable for this game.
Liverpool are pretty much at full-strength and should be able to start with Jose Enrique but new signing Phillippe Coutinho will not be available to play until next week after returning to Milan.
