Barclays Premier League
Saturday 7th February
Tottenham v Arsenal (kick off 12.45pm)
Spurs have no major worries to deal with as they prepare to face Arsenal. Nabil Bentaleb is back from international duty while Emmanuel Adebayor, Younes Kaboul and Etienne Capoue are available for selection again after proposed transfers did not happen.
Arsenal make the short trip to White Hart Lane without Alexis Sanchez. He’ll miss out on the North London Derby due to a hamstring injury. However, Danny Welbeck is expected to be involved having shaken off a thigh problem while transfer window recruit Gabriel Paulista should also be involved. A groin problem is keeping Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the sidelines alongside Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Abou Diaby and Mathieu Debuchy.
Aston Villa v Chelsea (kick off 15:00)
Aston Villa will have captain Ron Vlaar back in the squad after he resumed training this week. Philippe Senderos will miss out though – he’s carrying a calf problem. Libor Kozak continues his rehabilitation from a broken leg but returning to the match day squad is Joe Cole from a hamstring strain.
Chelsea must face Aston Villa without banned striker Diego Costa, who will miss the Blues’ next game too. However, Jose Mourinho can call upon the services of new recruit Juan Cuadrado, and also fit again midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Kurt Zouma is expected to feature again in the centre of the defence while Filipe Luis is still out with a calf strain. Mourinho has a dilemma in goal as he decides whether to drop Thibaut Courtois for making an error last weekend.
Leicester v Crystal Palace (kick off 15:00)
New Leicester recruit Robert Huth is banned so will have to wait to make his club debut. However, Matty James is back from a ban and is joined in the match day squad by Riyad Mahrez, who has returned from international duty. Matt Upson is back in the fray after a long-term foot problem but remaining on intimate terms with the physio are Kasper Schmeichel and Chris Wood.
Good and bad news for Crystal Palace – in comes new signing Pape Souare, but out is captain Mile Jedinak (ankle). Marouane Chamakh broke his nose last weekend and will probably miss out this week.
Manchester City v Hull (kick off 15:00)
Manchester City are at full strength as they entertain Hull on Saturday. Samir Nasri had been missing for three weeks with a calf problem but he’s back to full fitness now. Eliaquim Mangala has recovered from a shoulder problem, but Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony are away on international duty.
Hull’s new signing from Lokomotiv Moscow Dame N’Doye will not be available for this trip to Manchester. He is wrapped up in red tape in Paris and awaiting international clearance for his work visa. Nikica Jelavic will face a fitness test on his knee while Mohamed Diame is still a couple of weeks away from a return to the fray with a knee injury.
QPR v Southampton (kick off 15:00)
Chris Ramsey is taking temporary charge of affairs at QPR and he could have Sandro in the squad. A knee problem has kept the midfielder on the sidelines since November but he’s ready for a first team return. Adel Taarabt may also return from a spell when he was deemed to be not fit enough to feature.
The Southampton team bus will be travelling with Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama on board for the trip to London to face QPR. Both have recovered from their respective injuries to give the squad a boost as they continue their marvellous season.Loan recruit Felip Djuricic is not available as he continues to wait for international clearance while long-term absentees are Shane Long (ribs), Toby Alderweireld (hamstring) and Jay Rodriguez (knee).
Swansea v Sunderland (kick off 15:00)
Swansea can welcome back several first teamers for the visit of Sunderland. Ki Sung-yeung is back from international duty while new signing Jack Cork could make his Swans debut. Leon Britton and Jefferson Montero have both shaken off their knocks, but Kyle Bartley and Gylfi Sigurdsson are both banned. Marvin Emnes is out for three weeks with a hamstring strain and Wayne Routledge remains on the long-term casualty list.
The Sunderland is likely to be very busy as Saturday’s kick off draws closer. Billy Jones and Will Buckley have undisclosed minor knocks and will face a fitness test. Also to be assessed are bruising victim Emanuele Giaccherini, Adam Johnson (thumb), Jack Rodwell (groin) and Connor Wickham (calf). Lee Cattermole is still recovering from a knee injury and will not feature.
Everton v Liverpool (kick off 17:30)
Everton gaffer Roberto Martinez should be able to draft James McCarthy and new signing Aaron Lennon into the match day squad for the Merseyside Derby. McCarthy has fully recovered from a hamstring issue while Lennon joined on loan from Spurs this week. However, remaining under the care of the club physio are Leon Osman, Tim Howard, Steven Pienaar and Tony Hibbert.
Daniel Sturridge has made two 20-minute appearances for Liverpool since returning from injury and Brendan Rodgers may decide now is the time to unleash the striker from the kick-off. Lucas Leiva, Lazar Markovic and Adam Lallana are all carrying minor knocks and their involvement hinges on passing late fitness tests.
Sunday 8th February
Burnley v WBA (kick off 12:00)
Burnley have no fresh injury concerns with Matt Taylor (Achilles), Stephen Ward (ankle) and Kevin Long (knee) all still occupying the casualty list.
Darren Fletcher is standing by to make his West Brom debut after signing from Manchester United last week. James Morrison is struggling with a knee problem while Jonas Olsson wil not feature either as he still hasn’t fully recovered from an Achilles injury. Boaz Myhill is back in the fray following a hand injury, while Graham Dorrans and Brown Ideye are in the squad after transfer day moves were aborted.
Newcastle v Stoke (kick off 14:05)
Newcastle are returning to full strength. Paul Drummet, Gabriel Obertan and Ryan Taylor are all back in the squad while Papiss Cisse has completed a full week’s training and may be named as a substitute. Siem de Jong and Rolando Aarons are back training after minor injuries but this game comes too soon for them.
Stoke must travel to Tyneside without captain Ryan Shawcross, who’s suffering from a back injury. Recent hat-trick hero Jonathan Walters is carrying a knee injury and will be assessed prior to kick off.
West Ham v Manchester Utd (kick off 16:15)
West Ham have serious defensive dilemmas to contend with ahead of the visit of Manchester United on Sunday. The Hammers have just one fit centre half available as both Winston Reid and James Collins have been added to the injury list with hamstring problems. Cheikhou Kouyate may deputise. Amongst the injured at Upton Park are Andy Carroll (ankle), Doneil Henry and Diego Poyet.
Manchester United will travel with Jonny Evans and Ashley Young on the team coach – the pair have recovered from their respective knocks. However, Michael Carrick will face a late fitness test on a calf problem but is not thought to a likely participant against the Hammers.
