Arsenal (4) v Man City (10):Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is set to return from three months out with a knee injury but Robin van Persie (groin) misses out.

Midfielder Abou Diaby (thigh) and striker Eduardo (groin) also picked up knocks during the international break, but forwards Theo Walcott (knee), Emmanuel Adebayor (hamstring) and defender Mikael Silvestre (calf) are fit again while striker Nicklas Bendtner (knee) should be available.

Manchester City could be without striker Craig Bellamy (knee) but top-scorer Robinho is expected to be fit despite limping off in Brazil’s 3-0 win over Peru on Wednesday. Wayne Bridge (hamstring) could also be back, while Michael Johnson, Martin Petrov, Daniel Sturridge, Benjani and Didi Hamann are all nearing returns from injury.

Last season: Man City 1 Arsenal 3, Arsenal 1 Man City 0
Last five league matches: Arsenal D D W W W; Man City D L W L W
Top scorers: Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) 16; Robinho (Man City) 12
Match odds: H 4-9 A 7-1 D 3-1
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Blackburn (17) v Tottenham (11)

Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz misses a fifth successive game with a knee tendon injury while midfielder David Dunn is still sidelined by an Achilles problem. Vince Grella (groin) is a doubt while Brett Emerton and Steven Reid are long-term casualties.

Tottenham club captain Ledley King should be fit after resting his knee during the international break. Alan Hutton returned for Scotland from his foot injury last week but Jermain Defoe is still out (foot). Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will make late checks on Wilson Palacios, Luka Modric and Darren Bent.

Last season: Blackburn 1 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 1 Blackburn 2
Last five league matches: Blackburn W D W L D; Tottenham W W D W W
Top scorers: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 10; Darren Bent & Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham) 15
Match odds: H 8-5 A 13-8 D 23-10
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Bolton (12) v Middlesbrough (19)

Bolton’s internationals returned to the Reebok Stadium unscathed, leaving midfield knee injury victims Mark Davies and Joey O’Brien as his only absentees. Defender Andy O’Brien comes back into contention after being rested for the draw at West Brom.

Middlesbrough’s Adam Johnson faces a fitness test after suffering a couple of knocks on England Under-21 duty. Boro will also assess captain Emanuel Pogatetz and Tuncay, who were late arrivals back from international duty. Robert Huth has been having treatment for a sore knee but fellow central defender Chris Riggott is back from injury and Matthew Bates returns from suspension.

Last season: Middlesbrough 0 Bolton 1, Bolton 0 Middlesbrough 0
Last five league matches: Bolton W W L L D; Middlesbrough D W L D L
Top scorers: Kevin Davies (Bolton) 11; Afonso Alves (Middlesbrough) 7
Match odds: H 21-20 A 13-5 D 23-10
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Fulham (9) v Liverpool (2)

Mark Schwarzer and Clint Dempsey will play for Fulham despite only returning from international duty with Australia and the United States this morning. All of Fulham’s international contingent returned to Craven Cottage without any injuries.

Liverpool are likely to be without defender Sami Hyypia and midfielder Yossi Benayoun. Hyypia returned from international duty with a knee injury and Benayoun, also on World Cup qualifying duty, was already suffering with a hamstring injury and now also has a calf problem.

Last season: Fulham 0 Liverpool 2, Liverpool 2 Fulham 0
Last five league matches: Fulham D L L W W; Liverpool D L W W W
Top scorers: Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 10; Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 21
Match odds: H 5-1 A 4-7 D 11-4
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Hull (13) v Portsmouth (15)

Striker Daniel Cousin is Hull’s only doubt. He missed the last two games with a back complaint and, having not reported for international duty with Gabon, must still prove his fitness. The club’s other recent injury concerns, Michael Turner (thigh), Kamil Zayatte (knee), Andy Dawson (thigh) and captain Ian Ashbee (hamstring), are all fit.

Peter Crouch, David James, Glen Johnson and Niko Kranjcar have all returned from international duty without injury. On-loan Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant has recovered from a thigh injury but Armand Traore’s hopes of a first-team recall have been hit by a damaged ankle playing for France Under-21s.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Hull L L W D L; Portsmouth W D L D W
Top scorers: Geovanni (Hull) 7; Peter Crouch (Portsmouth) 16
Match odds: H 8-5 A 13-8 D 23-10
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Newcastle (18) v Chelsea (3)

Newcastle boss Alan Shearer will include Michael Owen in his team if the striker proves his fitness. Steven Taylor (ankle) and Sebastien Bassong (groin) could feature, as could Damien Duff (hamstring). Danny Guthrie returns to contention after a hamstring problem, and strikers Andy Carroll (ankle) and Xisco (fractured toe) have returned to training but Shola Ameobi is out with an ankle problem and Joey Barton (fractured metatarsal), Mark Viduka and Ignacio Gonzalez (both Achilles) remain on the sidelines.

Chelsea are without striker Didier Drogba and right-back Jose Bosingwa. Drogba jarred his ankle in training while Bosingwa returned from international duty with Portugal suffering from a hamstring strain. They are boosted by the return of fit-again Nicolas Anelka who has recovered from his toe problem.

Last season: Newcastle 0 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 2 Newcastle 1
Last five league matches: Newcastle D L L D L; Chelsea W W W W L
Top scorers: Michael Owen (Newcastle) 10; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 21
Match odds: H 9-2 A 6-10 D 14-5
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire).

West Brom (20) v Stoke (16)

West Brom defender Abdoulaye Meite returns to the squad having recovered from a hamstring problem and illness. However manager Tony Mowbray looks set to retain the side that started West Brom’s last match — the 1-1 draw against Bolton.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis will assess the fitness of internationals Glenn Whelan, Stephen Kelly, Abdoulaye Faye and Thomas Sorensen. Kelly is likely to be on standby for full-back Andy Wilkinson (back injury), while Pulis has jet-lag fears over Faye, who played in a friendly fixture in Iran. Amdy Faye will be recalled if Salif Diao fails a test on a groin strain, and striker Mamady Sidibe (knee) is out for the rest of the season.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom L L L D D; Stoke D D W L W
Top scorers: Roman Bednar (West Brom) 6; James Beattie (Stoke) 17
Match odds: H 21-20 A 13-5 D 23-10
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

West Ham (8) v Sunderland (14)

West Ham striker Carlton Cole has a groin injury and will miss out while Scott Parker and Radoslav Kovac are both struggling to be fit. Central defenders Matthew Upson and James Collins are available for selection after missing the last two matches, Savio Nsereko has recovered from a minor knee injury, but Valon Behrami, Jack Collison (both knee) and Danny Gabbidon (back/stomach) are out.

Sunderland’s Kieran Richardson returns from suspension but George McCartney has a calf injury and is a doubt. Defender Calum Davenport is ineligible because he is on loan from the Hammers. Manager Ricky Sbragia will give late fitness checks to Kenwyne Jones and Carlos Edwards, who returned from international duty today. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon is pushing for a recall and defender Nyron Nosworthy returns to the squad.

Last season: Sunderland 2 West Ham 1, West Ham 3 Sunderland 1
Last five league matches: West Ham L W W D D; Sunderland D L D L L
Top scorers: Carlton Cole (West Ham) 11; Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 10
Match odds: H 21-20 A 13-5 D 23-10
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Sunday, April 5th

Everton (6) v Wigan (7)

Everton manager David Moyes will make a late decision on the fitness of Tim Cahill as the Australian has spent the last week in Sydney recovering from a calf injury. Right-back Tony Hibbert has resumed training after a thigh problem but may not be ready to face the Latics.

Wigan will be without striker Amr Zaki after the Egyptian again failed to return from international duty on time. Midfielder Jason Koumas has a hip problem which needs to be assessed, otherwise the Latics squad is at full strength.

Last season: Wigan 1 Everton 2, Everton 2 Wigan 1
Last five league matches: Everton D W D W L; Wigan D L L W W
Top scorers: Tim Cahill (Everton) 8; Amr Zaki (Wigan) 11
Match odds: H 8-11 A 4-1 D 5-2
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Manchester United (1) v Aston Villa (5)

Gary Neville is expected to return for the first time since January after overcoming a groin injury. Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic are all suspended, Dimitar Berbatov (ankle) is out for a fortnight and Anderson is not likely to play after picking up a knee injury on World Cup duty with Brazil.

Gabriel Agbonlahor could be restored to the Aston Villa line-up as they look to end a run of eight games without a win. Agbonlahor is set to replace Emile Heskey, who was injured on international duty for England last weekend. Villa boss Martin O’Neill has to decide whether left-back Wilfred Bouma is ready to play any part after eight months out of action with a dislocated ankle.

Last season: Man Utd 4 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 1 Man Utd 4
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W L L; Aston Villa L D L L L
Top scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 18; John Carew & Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 11 Match odds: H 2-5 A 8-1 D 16-5
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).