Barclays Premier League
Saturday March 14th
Crystal Palace v QPR (kick off 12:45)
Crystal Palace will be able to call upon Yaya Sanogo after he fully recovered from a hamstring strain. Glenn Murray is back in the squad after a ban while Mile Jedinak begins a suspension of his own. Frazier Campbell and Marouane Chamakh (hamstring) are both out, while Jordon Mutch is also missing with a thigh strain.
Darnell Furlong, Adel Taarabt and Eduardo Vargas should all be passed fit to feature for QPR after they all returned to training this week. Joey Barton is banned and will miss out along with crocked trio Richard Dunne, Leroy Fer and Alejandro Faurlin.
Arsenal v West Ham (kick off 15:00)
Arsenal will be without hamstring injury victim Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for a month. However, Mathieu Flamini is back in the fray after his own hamstring troubles. Mikel Arteta and Gabriel are both close to returns after their respective injuries but Jack WIlshere remains on the long-term casualty list.
West Ham will have to manage without dislocated shoulder victim James Tomkins this weekend. He could miss the rest of the season in what is a pretty big blow to the Hammers. Boss Sam Allardyce is already without fellow defender Winston Reid, leaving James Collins as the only out-and-out centre back available. Enner Valencia will leave a gap up front after cutting his foot on a teacup (yes, seriously), and he joins Carlton Cole and Andy Carroll on the long-term casualty list.
Leicester v Hull (kick off 15:00)
Kasper Schmeichel is back in the Leicester squad after four months out with a broken foot. He’s been deemed fully fit and Foxes’ boss Nigel Pearson must choose between Schemichel, Mark Schmwarzer and Ben Hamer. Definite absentees are Dean Hammond (calf) and Anthony Knockaert (personal reasons).
Hull have three first-teamers close to a return but none of them have been declared fit for the trip to Filbert Street. Mohamed Diame, Liam Rosenior and James Chester are the players in question and all three should be okay to feature next weekend. Robert Snodgrass (knee) and Robbie Brady (calf) remain on the sidelines.
Sunderland v Aston Villa (kick off 15:00)
Lee Cattermole is banned for Sunderland this weekend and will watch from the stands alongside the suspended Adam Johnson, ankle injury victim Emanuele Giaccherini and Will Buckley, who has a knee injury.
Aston Villa will be boosted by the return of important striker Christian Benteke after his recent hip injury. Ron Vlaar will face a fitness test on a calf problem and while Libor Kozak is back training after a year on the sidelines with a broken leg, he’s is not fit enough to be considered this weekend. Kieran Richardson will have a calf injury assessed prior to kick off but definitely missing on Saturday afternoon will be Aly Cissokho (groin), Philippe Senderos (calf), Joe Cole (hamstring), Nathan Baker (knee), Alan Hutton and Jack Grealish (both suspended).
West Brom v Stoke (kick off 15:00)
West Brom could face Stoke a little light up front. Strikers Saido Berahino, Brown Ideye and Victor Anichebe all a carrying knocks and will face late fitness tests. Callum McManaman has a foot injury which will keep him out for another two weeks.
Stoke can welcome back Ryan Shawcross to the first team after a couple of months out with a back injury. Stephen Ireland has a gashed leg which will likley keep him out while Philipp Wollscheid (groin) is struggling and Bojan Krkic and Peter Odemwingie (both knee) remain long-term absentees.
Burnley v Manchester City (kick off 17:30)
Burnley will entertain Manchester City without Matt Taylor and new signing Fredrik Ulvestad. Taylor is still working his way back to full fitness after an Achilles injury while Ulvestad is being termed as a player for the future. Dean MArney and Kevin Long remain Burnley’s long-term casualties.
Out-of-form defender Vincent Kompany will be hoping for a recall to the Manchester City team for the trip to Turf Moor. Wilfried Bony will be hoping to keep his starting berth in what has been reported as a fully fit squad.
Sunday March 15th
Chelsea v Southampton (kick off 13:30)
Southampton should recall Toby Alderweireld, after the defender shrugged off his persistent hamstring complaint. The Saints are reporting no fresh injury worries but still have Jay Rodriguez and Emmanuel Mayuka on the treatment table.
Nemanja Matic return for Chelsea following a ban and John Obi Mikel is the Blues only definite absentee with a knee injury.
Everton v Newcastle (kick off 16:00)
Everton physio will give Leighton Baines a late fitness test on a groin strain. Coming back into contention are John Stones and Aaron Lennon after their recent problems. Gareth Barry is banned and will watch from the stands alongside Bryan Oviedo (hamstring), Tony Hibbert, Steven Pienaar and Aiden McGeady (all knee).
Newcastle will have to learn to cope without the suspended Papiss Cisse, who beings a seven match suspension. Jack Colback returns from his own ban, while Rob Elliot regains a seat on the team bus after a lengthy absence. Remy Cabella also returns after injury but Massadio Haidara’s knee is keeping him in the company of the physio.
Manchester United v Tottenham (kick off 16:00)
Manchester United will host Spurs without banned pair Angel di Maria and Johnny Evans. An ankle injury is keeping Robin van Persie out while Marcos Rojo will face a fitness test on his strained groin.
Spurs are reporting a fully fit squad for the trip to Old Trafford with Emmanuel Adebayor, Younes Kaboul and Etienne Capoue all available for selection.
