Saturday, August 30
Barnsley (24) v Derby (20)
Barnsley boss Simon Davey will be without on-loan midfielder Gary Teale who cannot play against his parent club. Midfielder Hugo Colace could make his debut if his international clearance comes through. Marciano van Homoet and Iain Hume are back from suspension but Maceo Rigters (hamstring) is out. Goalkeeper Heinz Muller (cruciate knee ligament), Jamal Campbell-Ryce (elbow), Anderson de Silva and Michael Coulson (both knee) will not feature.
Young midfielder Miles Addison could keep his place in the Derby team after impressing in the Carling Cup win at Preston. Full-backs Paul Connolly and Jordan Stewart and centre-half Dean Leacock are also likely to keep their places at Oakwell after helping Derby record their first clean sheet of the season at Preston.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Barnsley W L L L L; Derby L L L D L
Top scorers: Brian Howard & Iain Hume (Barnsley) 1; Nathan Ellington (Derby) 3
Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).
Bristol City (3) v QPR (9)
Bristol City defender Jamie McAllister could play after showing signs of a speedy recovery from a shin injury suffered in the Carling Cup against Crewe in midweek. Midfielder Marvin Elliott is set to spend four days at Lilleshall as he looks to recover from the knee injury that has blighted his season so far.
QPR will once again be without centre-back Fitz Hall because of a torn groin muscle. Matthew Connolly partnered Damion Stewart in Hall's absence in the Carling Cup although Kaspars Gorkss is also pushing for a place. Striker Dexter Blackstock and full-back Damien Delaney court return after illness. Midfielder Akos Buzsaky has resumed full training following his summer ankle operation, while Rowan Vine is recovering from a broken leg.
Last season: QPR 3 Bristol City 0, Bristol City 2 QPR 2
Last five league matches: Bristol City L W W D W; QPR L L W L W
Top scorers: Steve Brooker (Bristol City) 3; Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma (QPR) 4
Referee: Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire).
Burnley (23) v Plymouth (22)
Defender Russell Anderson may feature among the Burnley substitutes. The Sunderland centre-back is on loan until the end of the season. Manager Owen Coyle could keep faith with the side that beat Oldham 3-0 in the Carling Cup. Striker Martin Paterson will again lead the line after his midweek brace took his tally to five goals in as many appearances since a summer move from Scunthorpe.
Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock should have a fully-fit squad to choose from. Left-back Gary Sawyer is back to full fitness following a hamstring strain after testing the injury in a reserve game.
Last season: Plymouth 3 Burnley 1, Burnley 1 Plymouth 0
Last five league matches: Burnley D L L L D; Plymouth W L D L L
Top scorers: Martin Paterson (Burnley) 5; Marcel Seip & Rory Fallon (Plymouth) 1
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Doncaster (15) v Coventry (8)
Doncaster will give late fitness tests to Jason Price (ankle surgery) and Darren Byfield (hernia operation). Record signing Matthew Mills could play after an x-ray revealed he had not suffered a fractured jaw. Sean McDaid and Gordon Greer are both said to be making good progress following their respective knee and hip injuries, but neither player is ready for a first-team return.
Freddy Eastwood could return to spearhead Coventry's attack, following a groin injury, at the expense of Leon McKenzie. Fellow forward Leon Best and goalkeeper Keiren Westwood also trained this week but Andy Marshall is expected to keep his place ahead of Westwood. Jay Tabb is suffering with blisters on his feet but the midfielder could have injections to help him play through the pain barrier.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Doncaster W L W D L; Coventry D L W W L
Top scorers: Lewis Guy (Doncaster) 2; Robbie Simpson & Clinton Morrison (Coventry) 2
Referee: Rob Shoebridge (Derbyshire).
Norwich (18) v Birmingham (1)
Norwich manager Glenn Roeder is expected to recall striker Arturo Lupoli in place of Jamie Cureton, although midfielder Darel Russell could again play up front. Midfielder Sammy Clingan should play despite an ankle injury. Winger David Bell will have to wait for his debut as he recovers from an ankle injury while Gary Doherty is out for three months with an ankle problem of his own.
Central defender Martin Taylor, who spent part of last season at Norwich on loan, returns for Birmingham after missing the Carling cup defeat to Southampton. Striker James McFadden and midfielder Sebastian Larsson were also omitted from the squad for the trip to St Mary's with niggling injuries but are in line for recalls at Carrow Road.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Norwich W L L D D; Birmingham L W W W W
Top scorers: Arturo Lupoli (Norwich) 2; Garry O'Connor & Kevin Phillips (Birmingham) 3
Referee: Jon Moss.
Preston (4) v Charlton (6)
Preston defender Youl Mawene should return after being rested for the 1-0 Carling Cup defeat to Derby. Billy Jones could switch back to right-back with Michael Hart missing out. Barry Nicholson, Richard Chaplow and Simon Whaley are in line for returns at the expense of Darren Carter, Ross Wallace and Karl Hawley. Striker Chris Brown (sciatica) may miss out again. Goalkeeper Wayne Henderson (back) and defenders Liam Chilvers (Achilles) and Neal Trotman (hernia) are still missing.
Linvoy Primus will not be available to make his second Charlton debut after signing on loan from Portsmouth as he has a groin injury. Midfielder Darren Ambrose made a late substitute appearance against Reading last week and also played for the reserves to build up his match fitness following a summer hip operation. Striker Svetoslav Todorov (knee) is a doubt and Therry Racon (foot) and Izale McLeod (knee) are out. Kelly Youga returns from a one-match ban.
Last season: Charlton 1 Preston 2, Preston 0 Charlton 2
Last fiv league matches: Preston D L W W D; Charlton L W W L W
Top scorers: Neil Mellor & Richard Chaplow (Preston) 2; Andy Gray (Charlton) 2
Referee: Clive Oliver (Northumberland).
Reading (12) v Crystal Palace (19)
Reading manager Steve Coppell will be without defender Michael Duberry because of a calf injury. Chris Armstrong is set for a debut at left-back after his £800,000 move from Sheffield United so Stephen Hunt will revert to the left-wing role he occupied last season. Noel Hunt is pushing for a start up front. Captain Graeme Murty (calf), Marek Matejovsky (ankle), Brynjar Gunnarsson (knee) and Sam Sodje (knee) are all still out.
Palace midfielder Shaun Derry and forward James Scowcroft return from the one-match bans which kept them out of the 4-0 Carling Cup defeat at Leeds. Julian Speroni returns in goal while Danny Butterfield and John Oster were also rested in midweek. Sean Scannell (back) and Neil Danns (groin) remain injury doubts.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Reading L W D W L; Crystal Palace L W D L D
Top scorers: Ibrahima Sonko (Reading) 3; John Oster & Nick Carle (Crystal Palace) 1
Referee: Clive Penton (Sussex).
Sheffield Utd (5) v Cardiff (10)
Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell has no new injury or suspension concerns for the visit of Cardiff. Striker James Beattie has yet to make an appearance this season due to a knee injury and will remain on the sidelines. Midfielders Keith Gillespie (ankle) and Lee Hendrie (foot) are both out.
Cardiff manager Dave Jones will be without Gavin Rae (leg) and Kevin McNaughton (knee) who missed the Carling Cup win over MK Dons. Full-back Tony Capaldi made his return from knee surgery against MK Dons but lasted only 10 minutes because of a trapped nerve. Youngster Darcy Blake then suffered a pulled hamstring before Riccardo Scimeca was stretchered off with a leg injury.
Last season: Cardiff 1 Sheff Utd 0, Sheff Utd 3 Cardiff 3
Last five league matches: Sheff Utd W L L W W; Cardiff D W W D D
Top scorers: Billy Sharp (Sheff Utd) 3; Ross McCormack (Cardiff) 4
Referee: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear).
Southampton (17) v Blackpool (21)
Michael Svensson and Chris Perry should return to the heart of the Southampton defence after missing the Carling Cup win over Birmingham. Kelvin Davis will return in goal in place of Bartosz Bialkowski, and youngster Jamie White could come back on the right of midfield with Paul Wotton dropping to the bench. Teenage Czech striker Tomas Pekhart has joined on loan from Tottenham. Midfielder Rudi Skacel is the only injury absentee with an ankle problem.
David Vaughan is set for his full debut for Blackpool after being kept out by on-loan Liverpool midfielder Adam Hammill. Vaughan could be given a role on the left side of a central midfield three in a 4-5-1 formation. Midfielder Keith Southern is still suspended and left-back Stephen Crainey and strikers Daniel Nardiello and Stephen McPhee could all remain sidelined.
Last season: Blackpool 2 Southampton 2, Southampton 1 Blackpool 0
Last five league matches: Southampton D W L L W; Blackpool L D L D L
Top scorers: David McGoldrick (Southampton) 4; Steven Kabba & Ben Burgess (Blackpool) 1
Referee: Andre Marriner.
Swansea (7) v Sheffield Wednesday (11)
Swansea defender Federico Bessone remains doubtful with a fractured rib and Gorka Pintado is pushing for a starting role after scoring his second goal in three substitute appearances against Hull in the Carling Cup. Mark Gower and Angel Rangel are likely to return to Roberto Martinez's side.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws is hoping midfielder Wade Small will return from a hamstring injury. Strikers Akpo Sodje (knee) and Francis Jeffers (ankle and groin) remain sidelined. Defender Richard Hinds is a long-term absentee with a broken leg that will keep him out for three months.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Swansea W W L W W; Sheff Wed W W W L D
Top scorers: Gorka Pintado & Shaun MacDonald (Swansea) 2; Etienne Esajas (Sheff Wed) 3
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).
Watford (13) v Ipswich (16)
Watford's on-loan forward Grzegorz Rasiak begins a spell on the sidelines with a shoulder injury and Tamas Priskin will return in the central striking role. Mart Poom, Jay DeMerit, Lee Williamson, John Eustace, John Harley and Tommy Smith should all come back in while a late decision will be made on winger Jobi McAnuff because of an ankle injury. Goalkeeper Richard Lee is still not match fit after his knee injury while Theo Robinson has fractured a bone in his arm and is out.
Moritz Volz will make his Ipswich debut after signing on loan from Fulham. Alex Bruce serves the second game of a three-match ban. Striker Alan Lee is unlikely to travel as he discusses a move to Crystal Palace so Pablo Counago and Kevin Lisbie should start in attack. Ivan Campo is unlikely to feature but Veliche Shumulikoski and Tommy Miller are pushing for recalls. David Norris (ankle) could feature but David Wright (ankle) is out.
Last season: Ipswich 1 Watford 2, Watford 2 Ipswich 0
Last five league matches: Watford L D D W L; Ipswich D W L W L
Top scorers: Tommy Smith (Watford) 3; Kevin Lisbie (Ipswich) 3
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
Wolves (2) v Nottingham Forest (14)
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy hopes to welcome back striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (foot) and midfielder Matt Jarvis (hip) who missed the Carling Cup defeat to Rotherham. Sam Vokes should return from an injury picked up in training and Andy Keogh is expected to return following a stomach upset suffered during the Rotherham game. Full-back George Elokobi (knee) is out along with Jody Craddock (broken foot).
Nottingham Forest hope to have Lee Martin available as the on-loan Manchester United forward was forced to miss the Carling Cup defeat to Sunderland with a calf injury. Defender Kelvin Wilson (back) could return but Arron Davies remains sidelined with a calf injury, while Lewis McGugan is also out with a torn thigh muscle. Long-term absentees Joe Garner (knee) and Paul Anderson (thigh) are also unavailable.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Wolves D W D W W; Nottm Forest W W D L W
Top scorers: Chris Iwelumo (Wolves) 4; Robert Earnshaw (Nottm Forest) 4
Referee: Grant Hegley (Hertfordshire).
