Reading: Striker Shane Long is doubtful after returning from international duty with the Republic of Ireland with an ankle problem. Fellow forward and Republic cap Kevin Doyle could rejoin the squad for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury at Everton last month. James Harper has had stitches in a foot wound suffered at Manchester City last week but is expected to keep his place.
Squad: Hahnemann, Federici, Murty, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Duberry, Sodje, Shorey, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Gunnarsson, Oster, Hunt, Lita, Long, Kitson, Seol, Halford, De la Cruz, Convey, Doyle.
Aston Villa: Defender Wilfred Bouma is a major doubt for with an ankle injury suffered while on international duty for Holland in midweek and was unable to train on Friday. If he is ruled out, skipper Gareth Barry is expected to switch to left-back with either Patrik Berger or Steven Davis replacing him in midfield. Gabriel Agbonlahor is expected to shake off the calf injury which ruled him out of EnglandÂ’s Under-21 game with Spain. Striker Luke Moore is recalled to the squad after recovering from his shoulder problem and netting twice for the reserves in midweek.
Squad: Sorensen, Taylor, Bardsley, Hughes, Mellberg, Cahill, Laursen, Ridgewell, Bouma, Samuel, Agbonlahor, Petrov, McCann, Barry, Davis, Berger, Young, Carew, Maloney.
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Everton: The Blues will be without Leon Osman after the midfielder picked up a fifth booking of the season against Liverpool last weekend. Loan signing Manuel Fernandes has the chance of making his debut, having been an unused substitute in the Merseyside derby. Everton have gone three games unbeaten since they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Blackburn at Goodison Park last month, and will be looking for revenge after that 4-1 mauling.
Squad: Howard, Hibbert, Lescott, Stubbs, Yobo, Naysmith, Arteta, Carsley, Cahill, Fernandes, Neville, Beattie, Johnson, Vaughan, Anichebe, Wright, Van der Meyde.
Blackburn: Morten Gamst Pedersen will miss out after picking up a hamstring injury on international duty with Norway that will rule him out for at least a week. Rovers boss Mark Hughes must also cope without new boy Stephen Warnock following his sending-off against Sheffield United last week, but Andy Todd should be available to return after recovering from illness. PedersenÂ’s absence could mean start for the recently returned David Dunn, while Switzerland international Bruno Berner is also pushing to replace Warnock in the starting line-up.
Squad: Friedel, Henchoz, Khizanishvili, Emerton, Samba, Todd, Dunn, Bentley, Mokoena, Tugay, Nelsen, Roberts, McCarthy, Nonda, Brown, Berner, Gallagher, Peter
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Sheff Utd: Rob Kozluk faces a late fitness test on a knock but will be given as long as possible to recover. Egypt midfielder Ahmed Fathi is pushing for a starting place after an impressive goalscoring display against Sweden in midweek but striker Christian Nade (virus) is a doubt and winger Keith Gillespie is suspended. Centre-back Matt Kilgallon and striker Luton Shelton are still a couple of weeks away from full fitness, as is Mikele Leigertwood after his ankle problem.
Squad: Kenny, Davis, Jagielka, Kozluk, Tonge, Armstrong, Morgan, Bromby, A Quinn, S Quinn, Montgomery, Fathi, Webber, Hulse, Law, Nade, Kazim-Richards, Geary, Lucketti, Seck, Bennett.
Tottenham: Aaron Lennon and Jermaine Jenas are expected to return. Both missed EnglandÂ’s friendly defeat against Spain this week, Lennon with mild gastritis and Jenas after taking a knock to the ankle which has troubled him this season. Teemu Tainio is back in contention after an ankle injury and a throat infection, while skipper Ledley King (foot) is out for at least another five weeks. Hossam Ghaly is suspended but Mido returns from a ban.
Squad: Robinson, Cerny, Alnwick, Chimbonda, Stalteri, Lee, Assou-Ekotto, Rocha, Dawson, Gardner, Zokora, Huddlestone, Lennon, Malbranque, Murphy, Tainio, Jenas, Berbatov, Defoe, Keane, Mido.
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West Ham: Boss Alan Curbishley could be boosted by the return of defenders Lucas Neill and Anton Ferdinand for their relegation battle with Watford. Ferdinand is back in full training after the groin injury which has kept him out of the last two games, while Neill, who damaged ankle ligaments on his debut against Watford in the FA Cup defeat two weeks ago, could also make it in time. West Ham will be without new signing Matthew Upson, who is expected to be sidelined for three weeks with a calf injury.
Squad: Carroll, Green, Spector, Davenport, Ferdinand, Neill, Dailly, McCartney, Benayoun, Reo-Coker, Quashie, Boa Morte, Etherington, Zamora, Blanco, Harewood, Tevez, Mullins.
Watford: Clarke Carlisle is back in full training for Watford after a thigh injury - but will not be considered. Marlon King (knee) and James Chambers (ankle) remain sidelined with long-term injuries. But Dan Shittu should continue despite recent ankle trouble, as the rock-bottom Hornets seek a victory which will close the gap on their relegation rivals.
Squad: Foster, Lee, Mariappa, DeMerit, Doyley, Powell, Mackay, Shittu, Smith, Bangura, Francis, Stewart, Williamson, Mahon, Williams, Bouazza, McNamee, Henderson, Kabba, Hoskins, Ashikodi, Priskin.
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Portsmouth: Boss Harry Redknapp will be forced to reshuffle his back four with Glen Johnson the leading candidate to replace injured Linvoy Primus (thigh) at centre-half. With Djimi Traore (ankle) and Noe Pamarot (groin) doubtful and skipper Dejan Stefanovic still out, Matt Taylor is set to return to left-back, enabling Sean Davis and Niko Kranjcar to battle for midfield places. PompeyÂ’s David James and Andrew Cole are set to face their old club and midfielder Gary OÂ’Neil is back after a calf injury - winger Roudolphe Douala may have to give way.
Squad: James; Lauren, Johnson, Campbell, Taylor, OÂ’Neil, Mendes, Davis, Kranjcar, Kanu, Cole, Benjani, LuaLua, Hughes, Douala, Pamarot, Traore, Mvuemba, Ashdown.
Man City: Nicky Weaver and Ousmane Dabo are major doubts. Both men look set to miss the Fratton Park clash after limping out of last week’s home defeat by Reading, with Weaver suffering from a hip problem and Dabo nursing an Achilles injury. If Weaver is sidelined, Sweden World Cup star Andreas Isaksson is in line to make his first Premiership start after being restricted to just two substitute appearances since his £2million summer arrival from Rennes.
Squad: Weaver, Isaksson, Richards, Sun, Dunne, Distin, Trabelsi, Jordan, Beasley, Dabo, Hamann, Barton, Ball, Ireland, Samaras, Vassell, Sturridge, Corradi, Abdoun, Miller.
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