Saturday, September 27
Barnsley (24) v Norwich (11)
Simon Davey must decide whether to bring back Luke Steele and Jon Macken after Heinz Muller and Kayode Odejayi played at Southampton. Anderson De Silva is expected to retain his place in the Tykes' midfield.
Dejan Stefanovic may return to City's defence after picking up a knock during training, while midfielder Matty Pattison and striker Arturo Lupoli are available after hamstring problems. David Bell could be on the bench after ankle trouble but Sammy Clingan (shoulder) and Gary Doherty (ankle) remain sidelined.
Last season: Norwich 1 Barnsley 0, Barnsley 1 Norwich 3
Last five league matches: Barnsley L W L L D; Norwich D D W L W
Top scorers: Iain Hume (Barnsley) 2; Arturo Lupoli (Norwich) 3
Referee: Nigel Miller (Durham).
Blackpool (10) v Coventry (8)
Jermaine Wright is out for at least three months with an Achilles injury. On-loan striker Steve Kabba is likely to retain his place alongside Ben Burgess up front while left-back Stephen Crainey remains absent as he recovers from a groin injury.
Coventry boss Chris Coleman is likely to name an unchanged side. Striker Leon McKenzie came through the Rangers game unscathed following a knock against Sheffield United a week ago so should retain his place.
Last season: Blackpool 4 Coventry 0, Coventry 3 Blackpool 1
Last five league matches: Blackpool L W W L W; Coventry L L D D W
Top scorers: Steven Kabba & Ben Burgess (Blackpool) 2; Clinton Morrison, Robbie Simpson & Elliott Ward (Coventry) 2
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Burnley (13) v Preston (3)
On-loan Sunderland defender Russell Anderson is out for the season after damaging knee ligaments. Winger Chris Eagles may earn a recall to the starting line-up after only making the substitutes' bench for the Carling Cup defeat of Fulham. Ade Akinbiyi and Kevin McDonald could again miss out because of injury.
Left-back Callum Davidson may be available again for Preston after a knee injury. Midfielder Richard Chaplow hopes to be fit to face his former club after hamstring trouble, while striker Chris Brown could make his first appearance of the season from the bench after sciatica and ankle problems.
Last season: Preston 2 Burnley 1, Burnley 2 Preston 3
Last five league matches: Burnley D D W W D; Preston D W D W L
Top scorers: Martin Paterson (Burnley) 6; Neil Mellor (Preston) 5
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Cardiff (7) v Birmingham (2)
Cardiff boss Dave Jones looks set to turn to Jay Bothroyd and Ross McCormack after the Carling Cup defeat to Swansea. Paul Parry is likely to start in central midfield with Stephen McPhail suspended, while Darcy Blake is pushing for a return after a facial injury. Defender Gabor Gyepes is available again.
Striker Garry O'Connor is set to play for Blues after a groin problem. Right-back Stephen Kelly (thigh) is out but Stuart Parnaby should return after ankle ligament problems. Mehdi Nafti serves the final game of his three-match ban while fellow central midfielder Damien Johnson is still out with a back problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Cardiff D D D W D; Birmingham W D W W L
Top scorers: Ross McCormack (Cardiff) 5; Cameron Jerome & Kevin Phillips (Birmingham) 3
Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire).
Charlton (9) v Sheff Wed (14)
Charlton defenders Jonathan Fortune (knee) and Martin Cranie (hamstring) are struggling. On-loan Linvoy Primus (knee) could figure if fit while Yassin Moutaouakil and Jose Semedo are on stand-by. Zheng Zhi is close to recovering from a foot injury and may be on the bench with striker Svetoslav Todorov (hamstring).
Mark Beevers (hamstring) faces a late fitness test and if he fails to make it Tommy Spurr will partner captain Richard Wood in central defence for Wednesday, with Peter Gilbert filling the gap at left-back. Francis Jeffers is close to returning to the Owls' starting line-up.
Last season: Sheff Wed 0 Charlton 0, Charlton 3 Sheff Wed 2
Last five league matches: Charlton W L L W D; Sheff Wed D D W L D
Top scorers: Andy Gray (Charlton) 4; Etienne Esajas & Marcus Tudgay (Sheff Wed) 3
Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).
Doncaster (19) v Southampton (22)
Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll hands a late fitness test to defender Matt Mills (calf). Adam Lockwood came off the bench to replace Mills against Bristol City and appears favourite to deputise again if needed.
Simon Gillett (leg) and Morgan Schneiderlin (hamstring) are doubts for Saints. Kelvin Davis returns in goal and Stern John will push for a start, teenager Oliver Lancashire is available after serving a three-match ban, and fellow centre-half Michael Svensson's troublesome knee will be checked over as usual.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Doncaster L W L L L; Southampton W L L D D
Top scorers: Lewis Guy & Richard Wellens (Doncaster) 2, David McGoldrick (Southampton) 4
Referee: Mike Russell (Hertfordshire).
Ipswich (16) v Crystal Palace (21)
Striker Jon Stead returns to Town's starting XI after he was cup-tied for the Carling Cup loss to Wigan. Defenders Ben Thatcher (thigh) and David Wright (muscle injury) are doubts but striker Pablo Counago is pushing for a squad place after scans revealed the ankle injury he sustained in training last week was not as bad as first feared. Centre-half Tommy Smith is out for six months after breaking his ankle.
Craig Beattie is in Palace's squad after joining on loan from West Brom to ease the striker crisis - Alan Lee, James Scowcroft and Calvin Andrew have all succumbed to injuries. Neil Danns (groin) is still out.
Last season: Crystal Palace 0 Ipswich 1, Ipswich 1 Crystal Palace 0
Last five league matches: Ipswich L L W D D; Crystal Palace D L W L L
Top scorers: Kevin Lisbie (Ipswich) 3; Nick Carle (Crystal Palace) 3
Referee: Fred Graham (Essex)
Plymouth (18) v Nottm Forest (23)
Argyle are likely to be unchanged. Jim Patterson is still out with a thigh injury, so Chris Barker keeps his place at the back, with fellow defenders Gary Sawyer (hamstring) and David McNamee (hamstring) absent.
Andrew Cole is pushing to replace Robert Earnshaw (hamstring) up front for Forest, while Arron Davies (calf) could return. Fellow midfielder Matt Thornhill is banned, joining Paul Anderson (thigh), Joe Garner (knee) and Lewis McGugan (thigh) on the sidelines. On-loan defender Joel Lynch may be on the bench.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Plymouth L D L W W; Nottm Forest W L L L D
Top scorers: Paul Gallagher (Plymouth) 3; Robert Earnshaw (Nottm Forest) 5
Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire).
QPR (4) v Derby (20)
Midfielder Lee Cook and full-back Peter Ramage should return to the QPR squad after being rested in the Carling Cup win at Aston Villa. Centre-half Fitz Hall came through his comeback from a groin injury unscathed and should keep his place so striker Rowan Vine (broken leg) is the only injury absentee.
Derby midfielder Kris Commons (hamstring) is likely to return to the Derby starting line-up at the expense of on-loan Arsenal man Nacer Barazite or Stephen Pearson. Former Tranmere man Steven Davies is also pushing for a start after coming off the bench to play the last 24 minutes last weekend.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: QPR W D W W L; Derby L L W D D
Top scorers: Dexter Blackstock (QPR) 5; Nathan Ellington (Derby) 3
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester).
Reading (6) v Swansea (12)
Reading have a slight concern over captain James Harper after he missed training with a knock. Boss Steve Coppell made 10 changes for the Carling Cup defeat at Stoke in midweek and could turn to Kalifa Cisse to replace Harper if required. Noel Hunt is back in the frame after a stomach upset.
Swans boss Roberto Martinez hands late fitness tests to defender Marcos Painter and midfielder Darren Pratley (both ankle). Martinez has rated Mark Gower (ankle) as 50-50 to feature tomorrow.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Reading L W L W D; Swansea W D L D D
Top scorers: Kevin Doyle (Reading) 6; Ferrie Bodde (Swansea) 3
Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire).
Sheff Utd (15) v Watford (17)
Blades striker Billy Sharp and defenders Derek Geary and Ugo Ehiogu were unused substitutes in the Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal but could all start tomorrow. Sun Jihai is banned and Darius Henderson (knee) and Matthew Spring (ankle) remain sidelined.
Watford captain Jay DeMerit will need a late fitness test on a hamstring injury but goalkeeper Mart Poom is out for six months with a dislocated shoulder. Winger Jobi McAnuff (back) is a doubt while Lloyd Doyley and striker Tamas Priskin have picked up hamstring injuries and are set for a month on the sidelines.
Last season: Sheff Utd 1 Watford 1, Watford 1 Sheff Utd 0
Last five league matches: Sheff Utd W D L D L; Watford L W L L D
Top scorers: Billy Sharp (Sheff Utd) 4; John-Joe O'Toole & Tommy Smith (Watford) 4
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Wolves (1) v Bristol City (5)
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has a selection dilemma as he ponders whether to start with Andy Keogh or Sam Vokes alongside Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, with Chris Iwelumo banned. Carl Ikeme comes in for suspended keeper Wayne Hennessey, while Matt Murray is on the bench after recovering from cruciate knee ligament damage.
Adriano Basso failed to recover from a leg injury in time to face Doncaster - but the keeper should be fit enough to reclaim his place from Chris Weale. Defender Bradley Orr was forced off at half-time against Rovers with a slight knock but should be fit to start, although Marvin Elliott stands by to replace him.
Last season: Bristol City 0 Wolves 0, Wolves 1 Bristol City 1
Last five league matches: Wolves W W W W W; Bristol City W D D L W
Top scorers: Chris Iwelumo (Wolves) 8; Steve Brooker & Michael McIndoe (Bristol City) 3
Referee: Phil Crossley (Kent).
