Barclays Premier League
Saturday 22nd November
Chelsea v WBA (kick off 15:00)
Craig Gardner is in line to make his West Brom comeback after suspensions and should slot straight back into the starting XI. However, the Baggies will have to travel to Stamford Bridge without Jonas Olsson (Achilles) and Sebastien Pocognoli (hamstring)
Everton v West Ham (kick off 15:00)
Everton have quite a lengthy casualty list containing 10 names. Darron Gibson has a minor knee injury and will be assessed closer to kick off, while Leighton Baines and James McCarthy will also have fitness tests early on Saturday afternoon on their minor knocks.
West Ham travel north to Goodison Park with fit-again striker Andy Carroll. He played and scored in a private friendly midweek and is vying for a starting berth. Guy Demel is still out with a thigh problem but Diafra Sakho and Stewart Downing could make the game despite carrying back and knee injuries respectively.
Leicester v Sunderland (kick off 15:00)
Liam Moore and Wes Morgan pulled out of international duty last week but are fit to feature for Leicester this weekend. Keeper Ben Hamer is also fit after a finger problem but definitely on the sidelines will be Dean Hammond (calf) and Matt Upson (foot).
Sunderland pair Steven Fletcher and Lee Cattermole both return to the matchday squad, giving boss Gus Poyet a huge boost. Fletcher had an ankle injury which has cleared up while Cattermole has completed his ban. Sebastian Coates and Ricky Alvarez are both back training following injury but this game comes too soon for them. Billy Jones and Emauele Giaccherini will be available agin next week, while Patrick van Aanholt is a long-term absentee with a dislocated shoulder.
Manchester City v Swansea (kick off 15:00)
Manchester City can welcome back their captain Vincent Kompany after the defender shrugged off a calf injury. Fellow defender Eliaquim Mangala is available again after a minor knock but David Silva (knee), Aleksander Kolarov (calf) and Edin Dzeko (calf) will all miss out.
Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is back from a ban and will replace Tom Carroll in the Swans starting line up. Groins strains kept Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer on the treatment table but both have recovered and are available for selection. Jordi Amat was out for two months with a knee injury but he’s back on the team bus for the trip north, but Federico Fernandez misses out with a calf injury.
Newcastle v QPR (kick off 15:00)
Newcastle have several players on the casualty list. Fabricio Coloccini is out with a calf problem, while he’s joined by Steven Taylor (knee), Mehdi Abeid (broken toe), Cheick Tiote (calf), Rolando Aarons (hamstring), Siem de Jong (thigh), Davide Santon (knee) and Gabriel Obertan (thigh).
Stoke v Burnley (kick off 15:00)
Stoke should have Glenn Whelan, Erik Peiters and Phil Bardsley all available again after injury. Marc Wilson is out with a hamstring strain, and he joins Dionatan Teixeira (broken foot), Robert Huth (calf) and Peter Odemwingie (knee) on the sidelines.
Burnley’s Nathaniel Chalobah and Scott Arfield will be hoping they pass late fitness tests on minor knocks sustained during the international break. Sam Vokes is still out with a knee injury, and will watch from the stands alongside Matt Taylor (Achilles). Steven Reid has shrugged off a groin strain and is available for selection.
Arsenal v Manchester United (kick off 17:30)
Arsenal’s Theo Walcott is a big doubt ahead of the game of the weekend. He’s carrying a groin injury. Danny Welbeck may miss out on facing his former club due to a hamstring problem – he’ll have a late fitness test. Alexis Sanchez may still be jet-lagged following international duty and will need to be passed by the physio first. Olivier Giroud is back after a broken leg while Mikel Arteta is back in the fray after a hamstring issue. However, definite absentees are Laurent Koscielny (Achilles), Mesut Ozil (knee), Mathieu Debuchy (ankle), goalkeeper David Ospina (thigh) and Abou Diaby (calf).
Manchester United will travel to London without Radamel Falcao – the striker is carrying a calf injury. Defensively, United are still without Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Rafael. Luke Shaw will face a fitness test on a groin problem. In midfield, the Red Devils should have Michael Carrick back after a groin strain, while keeper David de Gea should be okay following a finger injury. Angel di Maria has recovered sufficiently from a foot injury received while on international duty but Daley Blind is out with a serious knee injury.
Sunday 23rd November
Crystal Palace v Liverpool (kick off 13:30)
Crystal Palace will have Mile Jedinak back after a ban but fellow midfielder James McArthur is out with a calf issue. Kevin Doyle was carrying a niggly groin injury but he should be fit enough to occupy a place on the substitute bench.
Liverpool may start with Rickie Lambert up front. Mario Balotelli picked up a hamstring problem during the international break while Daniel Sturridge is out until the New Year with a thigh injury. Jordan Henderson had a minor knock sustained last weekend but should be passed fit to play this week.
Hull v Tottenham (kick off 16:00)
Hull injured trio of Allan McGregor, Michael Dawson and Nikica Jelavic are all back in the fray for Sunday’s clash with Spurs after shrugging off various injuries. Curtis Davies has a back injury but may be passed fit and Alex Bruce is in the matchday squad again after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Spurs are definitely without the suspended Kyle Naughton this weekend, and the club physio will run several players through their paces ahead of the Sunday afternoon kick off to assess their fitness. Other definite absentees are Kyle Walker (abdominal surgery) and Nabil Bentaleb (ankle).
