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Weekend Premier League team news

Updated: Friday, 13 Jan 2012 16:17

David Silva set to return for league leaders Manchester City at Wigan
David Silva set to return for league leaders Manchester City at Wigan

Aston Villa v Everton

Striker Robbie Keane is in contention to make his Aston Villa debut - subject to obtaining international clearance - in Saturday's home Barclays Premier League clash with Everton.

The Los Angeles Galaxy player, who has joined Villa on a two-month loan, will replace Achilles injury victim Emile Heskey - side-lined for a month - in the squad.

Goalkeeper Shay Given is available after a six week lay-off with a hamstring problem but defender Carlos Cuellar (thigh) and midfielder Chris Herd (ankle) are still ruled out.

New signing Darron Gibson goes straight into Everton's squad. The midfielder was registered in time to be eligible after his move from Manchester United.

A hamstring injury to Sylvain Distin leaves manager David Moyes with more problems at centre-back as Phil Jagielka is still sidelined by a knee problem, which could mean a start for Shane Duffy, who only made his first league appearance as a substitute in the midweek defeat at Tottenham.

Aston Villa provisional squad: Guzan, Given, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Clark, Warnock, Delph, Bannan, Petrov, Ireland, Albrighton, Bent, Keane, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso, N'Zogbia, Weimann, Marshall, Johnson, Gardner, Stevens.

Everton provisional squad: Howard, Baines, Heitinga, Duffy, Neville, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Fellaini, Saha, Donovan, Anichebe, Mucha, Drenthe, Gibson, Stracqualursi, McFadden, Gueye, Vellios.

Blackburn v Fulham

Blackburn are set to have several key players back available for Saturday's clash with Fulham at Ewood Park.

Goalkeeper Paul Robinson (calf), winger Junior Hoilett and central midfielder David Dunn (both hamstring) could all make their returns from injury having been in full training this week, along with defender and club captain Christopher Samba, who sat out the FA Cup defeat at Newcastle last weekend due to an ankle knock and tight hamstring.

Fellow centre-half Scott Dann is not yet ready for first-team action again after his groin problem, but manager Steve Kean is optimistic he may feature a week tomorrow when Blackburn travel to Everton.

Fulham will welcome back Andrew Johnson and Simon Davies for their trip north.

The former has missed recent matches with a groin complaint but will return at Ewood Park, while Davies is in contention after a back injury.

Fellow midfielder Dickson Etuhu will be assessed ahead of the match, while goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer (spine) is making steady progress and should return in the next couple of weeks.

Blackburn provisional squad: Robinson, Bunn, Samba, Lowe, Hanley, Givet, Nzonzi, Rochina, Pedersen, Petrovic, Dunn, Hoilett, Olsson, Yakubu, Goodwillie, Formica, Vukcevic, Slew, Blackman, Henley, Morris.

Fulham provisional squad: Stockdale, Etheridge, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise, Kelly, Frei, Sidwell, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey, Ruiz, Davies, Dembele, Sa, Duff, Hughes, Baird, Kasami, Zamora, Johnson.

Chelsea v Sunderland

Chelsea missed the deadline complete the signing of Gary Cahill in time for their home tie against the Black Cats.

The Blues were confident yesterday of wrapping up the deal by the end of the week but that had not happened before the midday cut-off for Cahill to be registered in time to face Martin O'Neill's outfit.

Nicklas Bendtner could return to the Sunderland squad as they seek to continue their recent impressive form.

The Denmark international missed the FA Cup third round victory over Peterborough because of a knee injury, but is expected to be available for the game at Stamford Bridge.

If so, he will be joined in the squad by fellow frontman Fraizer Campbell, who is available for the first time since August 2010 after recovering from a second serious knee problem, but Jack Colback (ankle), Wes Brown (groin) and Titus Bramble (calf/Achilles) remain on the casualty list.

Sunderland provisional squad: Mignolet, Westwood, Carson, Bardsley, O'Shea, Kilgallon, Turner, Laing, Cattermole, Richardson, Gardner, Vaughan, Larsson, Colback, Elmohamady, McClean, Meyler, Sessegnon, Bendtner, Wickham, Ji, Campbell, Noble.

Liverpool v Stoke

Defender Jose Enrique is set to return to Liverpool's starting line-up for Saturday's visit of Stoke.

The Spaniard was left out for tactical reasons in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg win over Manchester City but is likely to return.

Midfielder Jay Spearing sustained a minor hamstring injury in midweek and that is likely to allow Charlie Adam to regain his place.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has concerns over a number of players ahead of his side's game at Anfield.

Defenders Jonathan Woodgate, Marc Wilson and Ryan Shotton are all nursing what Pulis describes as "niggles" and will be assessed.

Andy Wilkinson could return at the back having overcome his recent knee injury, while the likes of goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, winger Matthew Etherington and striker Peter Crouch are set to be restored to the team after they were rested for last weekend's FA Cup victory at Gillingham.

Liverpool provisional squad: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Adam, Gerrard, Kuyt, Henderson, Downing, Carroll, Doni, Kelly, Carragher, Coates, Shelvey, Rodriguez, Bellamy.

Stoke provisional squad: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson, Pennant, Delap, Palacios, Etherington, Crouch, Walters, Begovic, Shotton, Upson, Diao, Jones, Whitehead, Whelan, Woodgate, Fuller, Higginbotham, Jerome.

Manchester United v Bolton Wanderers

Alex Ferguson will take a check on a trio of minor knocks before finalising his Manchester United line-up to face Bolton at Old Trafford.

Chris Smalling and Phil Jones have taken time to get over problems they sustained in a collision during last Sunday's FA Cup win over Manchester City, while Anderson took a blow in training this week.

Ferguson must also decide whether Paul Scholes is fit enough to take a starting berth after his shock retirement U-turn last weekend.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle may decide to play Gary Cahill after his proposed move to Chelsea did not go through on Friday.

As the Blues expect to sign Cahill before the weekend, Zat Knight is likely to partner David Wheater in central defence.

Coyle will make a late check on goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, who is nearing full fitness after a thigh strain.

Manchester United provisional squad: De Gea, Lindegaard, Amos, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evra, Jones, Fryers, Cole, Carrick, Valencia, Park, Anderson, Nani, Giggs, Rooney, Welbeck, Berbatov, Hernandez, Diouf, Keane.

Bolton provisional squad: Jaaskelainen, Bogdan, Wheater, Cahill, Boyata, Knight, Eagles, Robinson, Muamba, Petrov, K Davies, Klasnic, Tuncay, M Davies, Pratley, Ngog, Blake, Reo-Coker, Steinsson, Ricketts, Riley, O'Halloran, Lynch.

Tottenham v Wolves

Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker (knee) remains a doubt for Saturday's clash against Wolves at White Hart Lane.

Defender Ledley King (hamstring) is not fit, Aaron Lennon could be rested as part of his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury, while defender William Gallas and midfielder Sandro are out with calf strains.

Tom Huddlestone has returned to light training following his long-term ankle injury layoff but will not figure tomorrow.

Wolves midfielder Nenad Milijas is available after completing a three-match ban for his red card against Arsenal.

Skipper Roger Johnson is expected to recover from the ankle knock which forced him to be substituted during the FA Cup third-round draw at Birmingham last weekend.

Midfielder Dave Edwards should also be available again after recovering from tightness in his groin. Former captain Karl Henry will make his 200th league appearance for Wolves if selected.

Tottenham provisional squad: Friedel, Gomes, Assou-Ekotto, Kaboul, Walker, Bassong, Bale, Modric, Van der Vaart, Parker, Livermore, Kranjcar, Adebayor, Defoe, Rose, Dos Santos, Cudicini, Pavlyuchenko, Lennon, Pienaar, Dawson.

Wolves provisional squad: Hennessey, De Vries, Stearman, Foley, Doherty, Craddock, Johnson, Berra, Ward, Elokobi, Hammill, Hunt, Henry, Edwards, Guedioura, Jarvis, Forde, Kightly, Doyle, Ebanks-Blake, Fletcher, Frimpong, Jonsson.

West Brom v Norwich City

West Brom head coach Roy Hodgson will check on the fitness of six first-team regulars before naming his side for Saturday's home clash with Norwich.

Hodgson has to assess the chances of centre-backs Gareth McAuley and Jonas Olsson (both calf), winger Jerome Thomas (groin), midfielders Paul Scharner (Achilles) and Youssouf Mulumbu (groin) plus striker Shane Long (back) being available.

Skipper Chris Brunt (fractured ankle), fellow midfielder Zoltan Gera (knee) and defender Steven Reid (ankle and knee) are definitely ruled out.

Goalkeeper John Ruddy returns to the Norwich squad after missing the FA Cup win against Burnley after his partner gave birth to a daughter.

Full-back Marc Tierney is back in training after recovering from a groin injury.

On-loan Manchester United defender Ritchie De Laet (back) is still out. Centre-forward James Vaughan and defender Elliott Ward (both knee) are still several weeks from returning.

West Brom provisional squad: Foster, Fulop, Jones, Jara-Reyes, Olsson, McAuley, Dawson, Tamas, Mattock, Shorey, Mulumbu, Morrison, Scharner, Thorne, Dorrans, Thomas, Tchoyi, Cox, Fortune, Odemwingie, Long, Bednar.

Norwich provisional squad: Ruddy, Martin, Whitbread, Ayala, Drury, Fox, Tierney, Naughton, Crofts, Surman, Hoolahan, Bennett, Holt, Wilbraham, Jackson, Morison, Steer, Johnson, Lappin, Barnett, Rudd.

Newcastle United v QPR (Sunday)

Midfielder Danny Guthrie has returned to the Newcastle squad ahead of the visit of QPR.

Guthrie has been sidelined by a groin injury since the beginning of December and will provide manager Alan Pardew with a fresh option in the wake of Cheick Tiote's departure for the African Nations Cup.

However, striker Peter Lovenkrands (calf) is unlikely to make the game, and Sammy Ameobi (knee) has joined fellow midfielder Sylvain Marveaux (groin) and defender Steve Taylor (Achilles) on the list of long-term absentees.

Mark Hughes will be unable to call upon several of his biggest names for his first game in charge of QPR.

Captain Joey Barton remains suspended for the trip to his former club, while Adel Taarabt and Armand Traore are on African Nations Cup duty.

Alejandro Faurlin (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of the season and goalkeeper Paddy Kenny is keeping his fingers crossed he does not suffer a recurrence of the hip problem that has dogged him recently.

Newcastle United provisional squad: Krul, Elliot, Harper, Simpson, R. Taylor, Santon, Ferguson, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Kadar, Cabaye, Obertan, Ben Arfa, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Gosling, Abeid, Vuckic, Best, Shola Ameobi.

QPR provisional squad: Kenny, Cerny, Murphy, Gabbidon, Connolly, Hill, Bothroyd, Orr, Derry, Buzsaky, Young, Smith, Mackie, Helguson, Wright-Phillips, Hulse, Campbell, Macheda.

Swansea v Arsenal (Sunday)

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers has almost a full squad to select from ahead of Sunday's Liberty Stadium meeting with Arsenal.

Rodgers is set to make changes from the side that beat Barnsley in the FA Cup with the likes of Michel Vorm, Joe Allen, Steven Caulker and Scott Sinclair likely to return to the starting line-up, while Gylfi Sigurdsson could be handed a full debut in midfield.

Long-term absentee Alan Tate is on the comeback trail after featuring for the reserves in midweek, four months after suffering a broken leg, but is a few weeks away from a return to first-team action.

Arsenal captain Robin van Persie will return to the squad following an extended break.

Thierry Henry, on loan from the New York Red Bulls, will again be in contention having come off the bench to score in the FA Cup win over Leeds, while defender Johan Djourou is available after suspension.

Midfielder Tomas Rosicky and centre-back Per Mertesacker are battling to overcome a virus.

Strikers Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho are away at the African Nations Cup. Defenders Francis Coquelin (hamstring), Thomas Vermaelen (calf), Kieran Gibbs (groin), Bacary Sagna (ankle), Carl Jenkinson (back) and Andre Santos (ankle) are all still out, along with midfielders Abou Diaby (hamstring) and Jack Wilshere (ankle).

Swansea provisional squad: Vorm, Williams, Taylor, Caulker, Britton, Orlandi, Graham, Sinclair, Dyer, Dobbie, Routledge, Monk, Lita, Moore, Bessone, Rangel, Allen, Tremmel, Agustien, Gower, Richards, Alfei, Donnelly, Sigurdsson, Situ.

Arsenal provisional squad: Szczesny, Koscielny, Djourou, Mertesacker, Miquel, Song, Ramsey, Arteta, Walcott, Van Persie, Henry, Almunia, Rosicky, Arshavin, Squillaci, Benayoun, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Park

Wigan Athletic v Manchester City (Monday)

Winger Albert Crusat is back in contention for Wigan as they prepare for Manchester City's visit to the DW Stadium.

Crusat has been missing with a back injury but is in line to return, while young striker Callum McManaman could be on the bench after impressing Roberto Martinez in the otherwise disappointing FA Cup defeat at Swindon.

Midfielder Mohamed Diame is on African Nations Cup duty with Senegal.

City are set to welcome David Silva back for the north west derby.

Silva missed Tuesday's Carling Cup defeat by Liverpool with an ankle injury but he is expected to train tomorrow and should be fit.

Mario Balotelli (ankle) is doubtful, whilst Vincent Kompany serves the second game of a four-match ban.

Wigan Athletic provisional squad: Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Watson, Boyce, Caldwell, Moses, Gomez, McCarthy, Di Santo, Jones, Stam, Van Aanholt, McArthur, Lopez, Thomas, Sammon, Maloney, Crusat, Gohouri, Rodallega, McManaman, Pollitt, Kirkland.

Manchester City provisional squad: Hart, Pantilimon, Richards, Zabaleta, Savic, Onuoha, Clichy, Kolarov, Lescott, Johnson, De Jong, Milner, Barry, Hargreaves, Nasri, Silva, Dzeko, Aguero, Balotelli.

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