Saturday

Aston Villa (13) v Newcastle (15)

Villa have recalled Benito Carbone, cup-tied for Villa's League Cup clash against Southampton in mid-week, to their squad. He is likely to start on the bench. Ugo Ehiogu is still sidelined by a calf strain.

Alan Shearer has recovered from a bout of tonsillitis and is expected to spearhead Newcastle's bid for a first away win in the Premiership at Villa Park. Warren Barton and Gary Speed return from suspension while Franck Dumas and Alessandro Pistone are back after ankle injuries.

Last season: Newcastle 2 Aston Villa 1,

Aston Villa 1 Newcastle 0.

Last five league matches:

Aston Villa DLLLD, Newcastle WDDDW

Top Scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 11

Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 18

Match Odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 9-4

Referee: M Riley (Leeds)

Bradford (17) v Middlesbr'gh (10)

Matt Clarke continues to deputise for the injured keeper Gary Walsh for Bradford, who have taken Aidan Davison on loan from first division Sheffield United. Stuart McCall and Lee Sharpe return after injury and food poisoning respectively. Dean Saunders, who scored the winning goal when Bradford beat Middlesbrough on the opening day of the season, is still sidelined by a hamstring strain.

Middlesbrough will give late fitness tests to Curtis Fleming, Phil Stamp, Steve Vickers, Keith O'Neill and Paul Ince. Colin Cooper and Gary Pallister have already been ruled out.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures Last five league matches: Bradford WLDLL, Middlesbrough WWDLD Top Scorers: Lee Mills (Bradford) 4

Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 7

Match Odds: H 15-8 A 6-5 D 11-5

Referee: R Harris (Oxford)

Leicester (5) v Arsenal (3)

Leicester's England winger Steve Guppy missed training through illness and faces a late fitness test. Defender Steve Walsh is set to keep his place on the substitutes bench.

Arsenal have eight first-team candidates out of action but Tony Adams, Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars and Kanu return. David Seaman has been ruled out for another 10 days after a recurrence of a calf injury. Martin Keown still has a similar problem and Dennis Bergkamp is ruled out by a groin strain. Stefan Malz (knee), Oleg Luzhny (groin), Ray Parlour (ankle ligaments) and suspended pair Patrick Vieira and Fredrik Ljungberg are also unavailable.

Last season: Arsenal 5 Leicester 0,

Leicester 1 Arsenal 1 Last five league matches: Leicester LWLWW, Arsenal WDLWW Top Scorers: Tony Cottee, Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 8

Kanu (Arsenal) 10 Match Odds: H 15-8 A 6-5 D 11-5

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury, Oxon)

Man Utd (2) v Everton (11) United have Andy Cole returning after a back injury. Henning Berg, Raimond van der Gouw, and Jordi Cruyff, who also missed the trip to Japan, could come into contention. Mickael Silvestre faces a late fitness test.

Everton are missing Don Hutchison and Danny Cadamarteri through suspension. Dave Watson (knee) and Mitch Ward (calf) are also ruled out while Scot Gemmill is doubtful with an ankle injury. Thomas Myhre, Gareth Farrelly, John O'Kane, Terry Phelan and Michael Branch are all out on loan but Abel Xavier is in line for a return to midfield. John Collins, Nicky Barmby and Paul Gerrard have all been recovering from minor knocks.

Last season: Man Utd 3 Everton 1, Everton 1 Man Utd 4 Last five league matches: Man Utd WLWWW, Everton DLDDD Top Scorers: Andy Cole (Man Utd) 14

Kevin Campbell (Everton) 8 Match Odds: H 2-5 A 13-2 D 11-4

Referee: G Poll (Tring, Hertfordshire)

S'thampton (16) v Coventry (12)

Southampton have Mark Hughes and Claus Lundekvam suspended and James Beattie and skipper Jason Dodd are in line to replace them. Midfielder Trond Soltvedt misses the game against his former side after suffering a knee injury in the 4-0 midweek defeat against Aston Villa. Winger Stuart Ripley is battling to recover from a calf strain.

Coventry are down to the bare bones in defence as David Burrows, Marc Edworthy, Marcus Hall and Richard Shaw all have knee injuries, so midfielders Paul Telfer and Steve Froggatt are likely to fill the full-back berths. Robbie Keane may be partnered up front by fitagain Noel Whelan, who has shaken off the ankle injury that has prevented him from starting a match since August.

Last season: Coventry 1 Southampton 0,

Southampton 2 Coventry 1 Last five league matches: Southampton DDWLL, Coventry DWDWL Top Scorers: Marian Pahars (S'thampton) 8

Robbie Keane (Coventry) 12 Match Odds: H 6-5 A 15-8 D 11-5

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)

Sunderland (4) v Chelsea (8)

Sunderland have skipper Kevin Ball making a rare appearance in the starting line-up because Kevin McCann and Alex Rae are suspended. Full-back Chris Makin resumes at right-back after serving a two-match ban. Steve Bould completes a three-match ban and Paul Butler is ruled out after reaching five yellow cards. Darren Williams will partner Jody Craddock in the heart of the defence.

Chelsea are without Frank Leboeuf through suspension but skipper Dennis Wise returns to Premiership action after a four-match ban. Leboeuf will be replaced by Jes Hogh while Wise's return should mean that either Jody Morris is dropped or Didier Deschamps is rested after picking up a slight knock in training.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures Last five league matches: Sunderland DWDLW, Chelsea LLDDW Top Scorers: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 14

Tore Andre Flo (Chelsea) 8 Match Odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 9-4

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)

Wimbledon (14) v Watford (19)

Wimbledon welcome back record signing John Hartson who has recovered from a thigh injury and is likely to partner Carl Cort in attack. Manager Egil Olsen admits he has several niggling injury worries but expects to have a near full-strength squad to choose from, with defenders Hermann Hreidarsson and Trond Andersen fit again and midfielder Robbie Earle fresh after being rested in midweek.

Watford welcome back Wembley hero Nick Wright, who is in contention after recovering from a hernia operation. Wright is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures Last five league matches: Wimbledon DDWLD, Watford LLDDL Top Scorers: Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 10

Michel Ngonge (Watford) 4 Match Odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 12-5

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood, Staffs)

Sunday

Derby (18) v Leeds (1)

Derby will give a debut to Georgi Kinkladze. The Georgian is likely to replace Avi Nimni, with the Israeli set to be on the bench at Pride Park. Craig Burley will be handed his Derby debut after his £3 million move from Celtic on Wednesday. Spencer Prior is in the Rams squad after his move to Hearts collapsed but Stefan Schnoor is suspended. Lars Bohinen may also figure for the first time since September 22nd after recovering from a cartilage operation.

Leeds skipper Lucas Radebe returns after being sidelined for last week's win over Southampton. He also sat out the midweek UEFA Cup defeat in Moscow through suspension. David Batty faces a fitness test after he missed the Spartak clash due to an Achilles injury. Striker Michael Bridges will be fit after shaking off a knee problem, but fellow midfielder David Hopkin underwent a groin operation yesterday and is unlikely to be back before Christmas.

Last season: Leeds 4 Derby 1,

Derby 2 Leeds 2 Last five league matches: Derby LWLLL, Leeds DWLWW Top Scorers: Rory Delap (Derby) 6

Michael Bridges (Leeds) 12 Match Odds: H 5-2 A 10-11 D 9-4

Referee: P Alcock (Halstead, Kent)

Liverpool (6) v Sheff Wed (20)

Liverpool will not rush Robbie Fowler back into action after his ankle operation although he has come through three reserves matches unscathed. Titi Camara has returned to fitness and will partner Michael Owen in attack. Patrik Berger (knee) and Vladimir Smicer (hamstring) will both miss out but Steve Staunton should be back in the squad after a hamstring problem.

Wednesday have major doubts over centre-back Des Walker, who has a thigh injury, and left-back Andy Hinchcliffe, who damaged a calf in Tuesday's League Cup defeat at Bolton. Definitely out is midfielder Danny Sonner following his sending off in the defeat at West Ham two weeks ago.

Last season: Sheff Wed 1 Liverpool 0,

Liverpool 2 Sheff Wed 0 Last five league matches: Liverpool WWWWL, Sheff Wed LDLDL Top Scorers: Titi Camara, Michael Owen (Liverpool) 5

Gilles De Bilde (Sheff Wed) 6 Match Odds: H 2-5 A 11-2 D 3-1

Referee: P Durkin (Portland, Dorset)

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill.