Saturday
Aston Villa v Darlington
Aston Villa will have to rebuild their midfield as Lee Hendrie and George Boateng are both banned, although Hendrie would have missed the game in any case with an ankle injury. Paul Merson, Steve Stone, Alan Thompson and Benito Carbone all hope for recalls, while defender Ugo Ehiogu rejoins the squad after a calf strain. Steve Watson (hamstring) is sidelined but top scorer Dion Dublin is fit again. Darlington are without the suspended Marco Gabbiadini, sent off against Southend two weeks ago. Defender Gary Himsworth is ruled out with badly bruised ribs.
Top scorers: Dublin (Aston Villa) 11; Gabbiadini (Darlington) 16. Match odds: H 1-5 A 11-1 D 4-1
Referee: P Richards (Preston)
Bolton v Cardiff
Bolton are sweating on the fitness of Mike Whitlow, who missed the midweek trip to Blackburn suffering from delayed concussion after a clash of heads with Tranmere's David Kelly last weekend. Cardiff will be without defenders Tony Vaughan and Russell Perrett (both suspended) and Scott Young (knee injury). Mike Ford returns after a hamstring injury.
Top scorers: Gudjohnsen (Bolton) 8; Nugent (Cardiff) 8. Match odds: H 4-11 A 8-1 D 11-4.
Referee: G Laws (Whitley Bay).
Charlton v Swindon
Charlton are without defender Steve Brown, who is suspended. Swindon have defender Gareth Davies in line for a recall following his recovery from a twisted knee. Reserve goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall stands by to continue in goal with Australian Frank Talia still struggling with a groin injury.
Top scorers: Hunt, Mendonca (Charlton) 9; Onuora (Swindon) 4. Match odds: H 2-5 A 13-2 D 11-4. Referee: A N Butler (Sutton-in-Ashfield).
Crewe v Bradford
Crewe are waiting on the fitness of Scottish midfielder Colin Cramb who is their only doubt. Kevin Street is on stand-by. Gareth Whalley's chances of playing for Bradford against his old club look good with Dean Windass and Peter Beagrie struggling to recover from with ankle and calf injuries respectively.
Top Scorers: Little (Crewe) 6; Mills (Bradford) 5. Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-10 D 9-4. Referee: A B Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)
Derby v Burnley
Derby's Danish defender Jacob Laursen is a doubtful starter and Spencer Prior could replace him. Mikkel Beck is back in the squad after Smith cut short the Danish striker's loan spell at Nottingham Forest, while midfielder Lars Bohinen is also included following his recovery from a knee operation. Burnley have an injury worry over striker Bradley Maylett.
Top scorers: Delap (Derby) 6; Payton (Burnley) 10. Match odds: H 4-11 A 8-1 D 11-4. Referee: M A Riley (Leeds).
Exeter v Everton
Exeter have a slight doubt over defender Kofi Nyamah, who was knocked out in a collision last weekend. Rob Dewhurst is added to the squad and is rated 70-30 to recover from his toe injury whilst Jamie Robinson has a slight calf problem. Everton are boosted by confirmation that top scorer Kevin Campbell has shaken off a groin injury and will be fit. Don Hutchison returns from suspension and Dave Watson and Mitch Ward are available.
Top scorers: Alexander (Exeter) 7; Campbell (Everton) 8. Match odds: H 13-2 A 2-5 D 11-4 Referee: S G Bennett (Orpington, Kent)
Fulham v Luton
Kevin Ball, Fulham's new signing from Sunderland, was not registered in time to face Luton. Luton have been refused permission to play striker Tony Thorpe, who is on loan from second division rivals Bristol City. Manager Lennie Lawrence is set to stick with the side which was beaten 2-0 at Oxford in midweek.
Top scorers: Horsfield (Fulham) 11; George (Luton) 11. Match odds: H 1-3 A 13-2 D 10-3.
Referee: G B Frankland (Middlesbrough)
Grimsby v Stockport
Grimsby are without midfielder Wayne Burnett (groin) but welcome back skipper Paul Groves from a three-match ban. He is likely to partner Tony Gallimore at the heart of the defence. Stockport are missing midfielder Chris Byrne, who is recovering from a hernia operation.
Top scorers: Ashcroft (Grimsby) 9; D'Jaffo, Dinning (Stockport) 8. Match odds: H 6-5 A 7-4 D 12-5. Referee: R Pearson (Peterlee, Durham).
Hereford v Leicester
Hereford will have three parttimers - keeper Mark Jones, midfielder John Snape and striker Robin Elmes - in their starting line-up against Leicester. Elmes will lead the attack alongside top marksman Paul Fewings. Leicester manager Martin O'Neill is sweating over the fitness of wing-back Steve Guppy. Reserve goalkeeper Pegguy Arphexad limped off during a midweek reserve game and is expected to be replaced on the bench by youngster John Hodges. New £3 million signing Darren Eadie is not eligible.
Top scorers: Fewings (Hereford) 10; Cottee, Izzet (Leicester) 8. Match odds: H 8-1 A 1-4 D 4-1. Referee: M L Dean (Heswall, Wirral).
Hull v Chelsea
Hull are likely to be without midfielder Gary Brabin who is struggling with a neck injury. Keeper Lee Bracey returns in place of Steve Bywater, who is on loan from West Ham and not available. Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli could give starts to Jes Hogh, Jody Morris and Chris Sutton.
Top scorers: John Eyre (Hull) 8; Tore Andre Flo (Chelsea) 8.
Match odds: H 8-1 A 1-4 D 4-1 Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)
Norwich v Coventry
Norwich welcome defender Darren Kenton back from injury, but manager Bruce Rioch may well decide to stick with the 4-4-2 formation he used against West Brom and that could mean another start for transfer-listed Norwegian full-back Erik Fuglestad. Coventry are without David Burrows (knee), Marc Edworthy (knee), Mo Konjic (fractured cheekbone), Marcus Hall (knee) and Richard Shaw (knee), but Gordon Strachan is hoping Gary Breen (dead leg) and Barry Ferguson (bruised toe) will win their fitness battles.
Top scorers: Roberts (Norwich) 8; Keane (Coventry) 12. Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-10 D 9-4. Referee: P E Alcock (Halstead, Kent)
SUNDAY
Chester v Man City
Chester could welcome back Yugoslavian centre-back Goran Milovaijevic, who has been suffering from a hamstring injury and has not been played for three weeks. Manchester City's new signing Robert Taylor is cup-tied and that could see a return to the side for Lee Peacock.
Top scorers: Beckett (Chester) 9; Taylor (Man City) 18. Match odds: H 13-2 A 2-5 D 11-4. Referee: T Heilbron (Newton Aycliffe)
Huddersfield v Liverpool (ITV)
Huddersfield manager Steve Bruce is without Chris Beech (calf) and George Donis (ankle) and that means Scott Sellars will again be handed a place in the starting line-up. Midfielder David Thompson is suspended for Liverpool, so Norwegian Vegard Heggem or Czech winger Vladimir Smicer come into the reckoning. Patrik Berger is not expected to have shaken off a knee problem, so Danny Murphy should keep his place along with Steven Gerrard.
Top scorers: Wijnhard (Huddersfield) 12; Camara, Murphy, Owen (Liverpool) 5. Match odds: H 5-2 A 10-11 D 9-4.
Referee: R J Harris (Oxford).
Leeds v Port Vale
Leeds have no fresh injuries from their UEFA Cup victory over Spartak Moscow, but David Batty, sidelined by a calf injury for the Spartak clash, is rated 50-50 for a return. Vale manager Brian Horton will be without former Wrexham midfielder Dave Brammer and defender Matthew Carragher.
Top scorers: Bridges (Leeds) 12; Rougier (Vale) 7. Match odds: H 1-6 A 10-1 D 5-1. Referee: S W Dunn (Bristol).
Sheff Utd v Rushden & D'monds
Sheffield have skipper Lee Sandford and Belgium international defender Davy Gysbrechts suspended. England U21 midfielder Curtis Woodhouse and defender Shaun Murphy face late fitness tests. Rushden will be without long-term absentee Darren Bradshaw (Achilles) and defender Mark Peters (ankle).
Top scorers: Smith (Sheff Utd) 13; Collins, McElhatton (Rushden & D'monds) 9 Match odds: H 4-9 A 11-2 D 11-4.
Referee: B Knight (Orpington, Kent).
Tottenham v Newcastle (Sky Sports)
Tottenham will be without suspended duo Tim Sherwood and Mauricio Taricco, so Luke Young is set to keep his place at right back with Justin Edinburgh returning on the left. Allan Nielsen and Stephen Clemence will be competing for the midfield slot vacated by Sherwood. Newcastle must manage without French defender Franck Dumas. Kevin Gallacher returns to the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Top scorers: Iversen (Tottenham) 11; Shearer (Newcastle) 18. Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 9-4. Referee: G Poll (Tring, Herts).
