Sat 20th September
QPR v Stoke (kick off 12:45)
Eduardo Vargas suffered a clash of heads midweek which required stitches, but he should be passed fit to lead the QPR forward line. Rangers should also have Joey Barton and Jordon Mutch available for selection.
Stoke could be without calf and foot injury victims Jonathan Walters and Marko Arnautovic, but should be boosted by the return of Stephen Ireland after a niggly rib muscle injury. Geoff Cameron and Peter Odemwingie are definitely ruled out due to long-term injuries.
Aston Villa v Arsenal (kick off 15:00)
Ron Vlaar’s calf will keep him out of the Aston Villa line up for Saturday so expect Nathan Baker to deputise. In good news for Villa fans, Christian Benteke is back in training, but unfortunately this game comes too soon for him. Joe Cole is back in the fray following a recent calf problem while Libor Kozak is still nursing a broken leg.
Back on Arsenal’s team bus for the trip to Villa Park will be recent tonsillitis victim Calum Chambers, and groin strain sufferer Mathieu Flamini. Jack Wilshere should also have a seat after a recent ankle injury, but Nacho Monreal will be left at home to rest his back injury. Definitely not making the trip will be Mathieu Debuchy (ankle ligaments), Yay Sanogo (hamstring), Theo Walcott (knee), Serge Gnabry (knee), and Olivier Giroud (foot).
Burnley v Sunderland (kick off 15:00)
Burnley target man Danny Ings will miss the visit of Sunderland after straining his hamstring last weekend. Fellow striker Sam Vokes is also sidelined (knee) so Marvin Sordell and Ashley Barnes should get the nod. Matty Taylor is also ruled out with an Achilles injury so on-loan duo Nathan Chalobah and Michael Keane are limbering up.
Sunderland are reporting no fresh injury concerns and boss Gus Poyet may decide to field an unchanged line-up from that which drew with Spurs last weekend. Connor Wickham will again lead the line as the sole striker.
Newcastle v Hull (kick off 15:00)
Newcastle will attempt to bounce back to form without injured posse Siem de Jong, Rolando Aarons, Adam Campbell, and Davide Santon. Papiss Cisse is nearing a return following a knee injury, but this game comes too soon for him.
Hull’s Abel Hernandez was left ‘exhausted’ by his introduction to English football last weekend but will be declared fit and ready to face Newcastle. Hatem Ben Arfa is on loan at Hull from Newcastle, and is ineligible to feature. Gaston Ramirez is ready to make his full debut.
Swansea v Southampton (kick off 15:00)
Swansea will hand new signing Federico Fernandez his first start as a direct replacement for the crocked centre back Jordi Amat. He’ll line up beside Ashley Williams. It’s expected that Wilfried Bony will replace Bafetimbi Gomis up front.
Although new Southampton recruit Sadio Mane has received his work permit, he will not be considered for the trip to Wales, but he could feature on Tuesday in the League Cup. Shane Long is back in the matchday squad after a recent head knock.
West Ham v Liverpool (kick off 17:30)
West Ham’s casualty list remains unchanged as they prepare to face Liverpool in the Saturday tea-time live match. On that list are Matt Jarvis (thigh), Andy Carroll (ankle), Kevin Nolan (shoulder) and Joey O’Brien (knee). Hamstring victim James Collins will face a physio test prior to kick off.
Daniel Sturridge is nearing a return to Liverpool’s matchday squad but will miss out on this trip to West Ham. However, Martin Skrtel is back in the fray following a knee problem while definite absentees are Joe Allen, Glen Johnson and Jon Flanagan.
Sun 21st September
Leicester v Manchester United (kick off 13:30)
Leicester will play former Inter Milan midfielder Esteban Cambiasso from the start against Manchester United in Sunday’s early kick-off. He joined the Foxes on a free treansfer during the summer and caught the eye after playing a half last weekend.On-loan Nick Powell is ineligible to face his parent club, but Kasper Schmeichel is back after a ligament strain.
Manchester United should have Chris Smalling back after a groin strain, and could be joined in the starting XI by Luke Shaw, who will be making his debut. On the casualty list are Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Jesse Lingard and Sam Johnstone.
Tottenham v WBA (kick off 13:30)
Andros Townsend suffered a dead leg in Spurs’ European escapade midweek and will be given every chance to recover before their starting line-up. Kyle Walker is still out with a hip injury, but Emmanuel Adebayor, Younes Kaboul, Mousa Dembele, Nacer Chadli and Danny Rose are re-instated to the squad after being rested midweek.
West Brom’s injury woes are easing. Joleon Lescott returns, as does Youssouf Mulumbu and Victor Anichebe. Silvestre Varela is available for selection following a move to the Hawthorns during the summer, while Stephane Sessegnon has recovered from blood on his eye after getting hit in the face with a ball.
Everton v Crystal Palace (kick off 16:00)
Everton’s Samuel Eto’o is preparing to start for the Toffees after coming through 22 minutes of midweek European action. Seamus Coleman received a knock to his head midweek and will face a late fitness test.
Marouane Chamakh will be given every possible minute to pass a fitness test ahead of the clash with Everton. The striker is carrying a hamstring injury.Kevin Doyle could make his full Palace debut while Andrew Johnson is also vying for a starting berth.
Manchester City v Chelsea (kick off 16:00)
Manchester City are again without Stevan Jovetic (hamstring) and Fernando (groin). Edin Dzeko suffered a back problem in the midweek Champions League loss at Bayern Munich but City expect him to be passed fit. On-loan midfielder Frank Lampard could face his former club while Eliaquim Mangala waits patiently for his City debut.
Diego Costa is carrying a hamstring strain but will start for Chelsea against the current Premier League champions on Sunday. Other than that, the Blues are reporting no fresh concerns.
