Football News; Newcastle skipper Fabricio Coloccini is unlikely to make his comeback on Saturday as he continues his recovery from injury. The Argentina international is back in training after a groin problem but has no football under his belt, while fellow central defender Steven Taylor, who suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury in training last week, is still some way from returning. Left-back Paul Dummett, who partnered Mike Williamson at Sunderland, is also out with a hamstring strain, meaning Williamson and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa are likely to pair up, as they did in midweek for the League Cup tie against Manchester City. Chelsea have no fresh injury or suspension concerns to contend with, but will make sweeping changes to the side which overcame Arsenal on Tuesday. With Marco van Ginkel the only absentee at present, with knee ligament damage, Mourinho may opt to alter his entire starting XI - such is the Blues strength in depth. Juan Mata will be hoping he did enough at Emirates Stadium to retain his place, but the likes of Andre Schurrle, Eden Hazard, Oscar, Frank Lampard, Ramires and Fernando Torres are all be pushing hard for limited spots in the creativity and attacking departments. Brede Hangeland and Hugo Rodallega will miss Fulhams clash with Manchester United on Saturday. Whites captain Hangeland is out with a nerve injury in his leg, while Rodallega will be out for at least a couple of weeks, and potentially more, after tearing an adductor. Aaron Hughes is pushing for a start after making his first appearance since August 31 against Southampton, but full-back Matthew Briggs (hernia) is still out. Manchester Uniteds experienced central defensive pair of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are in contention for returns this weekend. Vidic and Ferdinand played together for the first time since Uniteds derby thrashing by Manchester City in September in the midweek Capital One Cup tie against Norwich. There are no concerns over striker Robin van Persie after a number of niggling injuries in recent weeks but fellow forward Danny Welbeck (knee) again misses out. Steve Bruce will hand late fitness tests to attackers Sone Aluko and Robbie Brady ahead of Saturdays clash. Brady is struggling for fitness following his hernia operation and the former continues to recover from a calf problem, while Alex Bruce (groin) and Aaron Mclean (calf) both picked up injuries during the Capital One Cup tie and add to an already lengthy injury list. Goalkeeper Allan McGregor (hip) and centre-back James Chester (hamstring) remain sidelined, while Jake Livermore returns following the double-header against parent club Tottenham but on-loan Black Cats forward Danny Graham is replaced by Yannick Sagbo. Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has no injury concerns ahead of Saturdays trip to Hull. Forward Steven Fletcher appeared unscathed despite landing awkwardly during last weekends 2-1 derby victory against Newcastle. Midfielder David Vaughan will not feature in Poyets squad after joining Sky Bet Championship side Nottingham Forest on a three-month loan deal. City are likely to be without summer signing Stevan Jovetic, who limped off during the early stages of the League Cup tie with a calf injury, although the extent of his problem remains uncertain. Captain Vincent Kompany will also miss out again due to a thigh muscle strain which will see him remain absent until the end of the month, meaning that Pellegrini could recall Matija Nastasic to his defence having missed the trip to Newcastle. Micah Richards, Martin Demichelis, Joleon Lescott, Dedryck Boyata and Javi Garcia are all also in contention for a place as Pellegrini looks to address the defensive worries of recent weeks. Norwich duo Robert Snodgrass and Nathan Redmond will face late fitness tests after picking up knocks in the defeat at Old Trafford. Snodgrass was stretchered off with concussion after colliding with Rafael during an aerial challenge, while Redmond was forced off late into the game with a hip injury. Alexander Tettey is a confirmed absentee with damaged knee ligaments which could see him sidelined for several weeks. Injury woes have plagued Norwichs season and Hughton will also be without striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel (foot) and winger Elliot Bennett (knee). Glenn Whelan and Andy Wilkinson could both return to the Stoke squad if they are adjudged to have fully recovered from hamstring and knee injuries respectively. Despite being a major doubt ahead of the win over Birmingham, Robert Huth completed the full 120 minutes in the League Cup tie, meaning that he is likely to remain at the heart of defence. The defender was a worry having suffered a swollen and bruised ankle in the defeat to Manchester United, but was passed fit in time for Wednesdays game. Dani Osvaldo could return for Pochettinos side having missed last weekends 2-0 win over Fulham due to a muscle injury picked up in training. The striker will undergo a late fitness test ahead of the game, as will midfielder Steven Davis who was sidelined with a knee injury for the Fulham game. Brazilian midfielder Guly Do Prado is also recovering from a knee injury, but has been given no return date as yet, making him Southamptons third doubt for the game. West Brom manager Steve Clarke will continue to assess the fitness of midfielders Morgan Amalfitano and Scott Sinclair ahead of Saturdays clash. Amalfitano was withdrawn with a knee injury during the first half of last weekends 4-1 defeat at Liverpool, but could recover in time. On-loan winger Sinclair, who has missed West Broms last three outings due a hamstring injury, could be ready to make a return, while first choice goalkeeper Ben Foster will be out for the month with Boaz Myhill continuing to deputise. Crystal Palace caretaker Keith Millen will be without attacker Jonathan Williams, although he is said to making swift progress from a knee injury. Norwegian international defender Jonny Parr is back in contention for the Eagles after completing 90 minutes with the Palace development side in midweek. Paddy McCarthy, Jack Hunt, and Glenn Murray all have long-term injuries that have kept them out for the past few games. Winger Matthew Taylor will be missing for West Ham after suffering a knock against Burnley in the midweek Capital One Cup victory. Mladen Petric is also out for a couple of weeks after aggravating an injury in an U21 run-out and fellow striker Ricardo Vaz Te is absent after dislocating a shoulder against Swansea on Sunday. The re-signed Carlton Cole is not yet ready for a Premier League start, according to Hammers manager Allardyce, but the striker could feature from the bench. Lambert has revealed that Gabriel Agbonlahor is unlikely to make the trip to east London, with the game coming too soon for a man who continues to nurse an ankle complaint. Joe Bennett (back) is also set to be unavailable, while Antonio Luna has been ruled out for a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury. Jores Okore (knee ligaments), Charles NZogbia (Achilles) and Gary Gardner (back) remain on the treatment table and some way off a first-team return. Arsenal will have Mikel Arteta back from suspension, with the midfielder having served a ban for the red card he picked up against Crystal Palace. Midfielder Mathieu Flamini, though, remains sidelined with his groin problem as does Serge Gnabry (ankle), while Theo Walcott is still recovering from minor abdominal surgery. Lukas Podolski (hamstring) and Yaya Sanogo (back) are also unavailable, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) and Abou Diaby (knee ligaments) are long-term absentees. Liverpool will see their squad boosted by the return to fitness of Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian playmaker required surgery to remedy a shoulder injury, but he has returned to full training and will be included in Rodgers matchday squad. Jose Enrique remains a doubt having sat out the Reds last two fixtures with a knee problem, meaning Aly Cissokho is likely to start at left-back, while Iago Aspas (thigh) and Sebastian Coates (knee ligaments) are some way off a first-team recall. Celtic striker Georgios Samaras is a major doubt for their Premiership clash against Dundee United at Celtic Park. The Greece striker was forced off the park 10 minutes from the end of last weekends 2-1 win at Partick Thistle after suffering a deep gash to his knee. The injury required stitches and manager Neil Lennon is unlikely to risk his Champions League talisman just four days before the return against Ajax at the Amsterdam ArenA. However, there was better news for Lennon when full-back Emilio Izaguirre, who like Samaras missed the final stages of the Thistle game with a head injury, was passed fit to face Jackie McNamaras side. Midfielder Joe Ledley was rested on Friday due to a back problem but should be ready to play while James Forrest (ankle) and Charlie Mulgrew (heel) are back in contention for a start. But Lennon is unlikely to rush back Kris Commons with the Ajax tie in mind after the midfielder sat out the trip to Firhill due to a hamstring strain. Nadir Ciftci is available for Dundee Uniteds trip to Glasgow as he awaits the appeal against his red card at Inverness and hearings over misconduct charges. But the visitors have a slight doubt over keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak who is carrying an ankle injury from the extra-time League Cup defeat against Caley Thistle. Andrew Robertson has been suffering from a dead leg but manager Jackie McNamara is confident the United defender will be available. St Johnstone striker Steven MacLean is in line for a return to action against Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday following a knee injury. Frazer Wright serves the second of a three-match league ban, but the defender sustained a nasty leg injury in the League Cup quarter-final win over Greenock Morton on Wednesday. Saints are still without Steven Anderson (dislocated thumb) and David Robertson (ankle) for the match against the bottom club. Gary Locke has a full Hearts squad to choose from, with no new injury or suspension problems to report. Inverness Caley boss Terry Butcher has an unchanged squad for the Scottish Premiership home clash with Kilmarnock. Butcher is confident his team are well prepared for the match after their 2-1 League Cup quarter-final against Dundee United, which Inverness won after extra time. James Vincent remains absent for Caledonian Thistle, as the midfielder recovers from a leg fracture. Kilmarnock travel to the Highlands looking to build on last weeks 2-0 win over Hearts, but they will again be without the services of Rabiu Ibrahim. The midfielder collapsed during Killies victory over Ross County a fortnight ago and spent two nights in hospital undergoing tests. However, manager Allan Johnston is not expecting those test results to come back until next week. St Mirren duo Gary Teale and David Barron will be absent for the home side when they entertain Ross County. Winger Teale is still out of action with a groin injury, while midfielder Barron will be out with an ankle problem until Christmas. Goalkeeper Christopher Dilo is making good progress on a knee injury but will not be involved against the Staggies. Ross County manager Derek Adams has a full squad available for the trip to St Mirren Park. Graham Carey and Ivan Sproule were doubts for last Fridays abandoned Highland derby but came through 45 minutes before the floodlights failed. Defeat for the Highlanders would see them drop below St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership. Watford boss Gianfranco Zola has an unchanged squad to pick from for their Sky Bet Championship clash with Leicester at Vicarage Road. Almen Abdi has proved a big loss for the Hornets this season having not featured since the end of August due to a foot injury. And, having recently returned to training, it was revealed this week that he has suffered a setback in his recovery, with no timeframe currently set on his comeback. Nyron Nosworthy played an hour for the clubs Under-21 side on Wednesday but he still needs further match fitness before being ready following a lengthy period on the sidelines with an Achilles injury. Fellow long-term absentee Tommie Hoban (ankle) remains absent. Paul Konchesky, meanwhile, is an injury concern for Leicester. A hamstring injury saw Konchesky come off at half-time during the thrilling 4-3 Capital One Cup victory over Fulham on Tuesday night and the left-back is being monitored. Birmingham winger Chris Burke returns to contention for their Sky Bet Championship clash with Charlton at St Andrews. Burke missed Tuesdays thrilling Capital One Cup tie against Stoke due to a hamstring strain. Striker Jesse Lingard and left-back David Murphy (both knee) are not yet ready to return, however, while new signing Dariusz Dudka needs to build up his match fitness before being considered. Wade Elliott starts a three-match suspension following his red card in midweek, and boss Lee Clark will also assess the fitness of one or two players having played close to an hour-and-a-half with only 10 men against the Potters. Yann Kermorgant and Richard Wood, meanwhile, are injury doubts for Charlton. Striker Kermorgant made his first start in six weeks against Wigan on Sunday but limped off early on after landing awkwardly on the same ankle. Defender Wood also came off with a dead leg during the goalless draw and boss Chris Powell says the duo only have an outside chance of being fit. Powell is still without defensive duo Leon Cort and Chris Solly, although they are edging closer to fitness after knee injuries and could be available later in the month. Blackburn will be without suspended duo DJ Campbell and Grant Hanley in Saturdays Sky Bet Championship clash with Middlesbrough at Ewood Park. Centre-back Hanley completes a three-game ban for the red card he picked up against Wigan while striker Campbell starts a suspension for his dismissal against Blackpool, which sparked a melee that has since led to both clubs being charged by the FA. Dickson Etuhu played an hour in the Lancashire Senior Cup in midweek while fellow midfielder David Dunn, also suffering from a knee injury, is back in full training so both players could make the squad. The likes of goalkeeper Paul Robinson (back), midfielder Ruben Rochina (shoulder) and Northern Ireland international Corry Evans (ankle) are expected to miss out again. Interim Middlesbrough boss Mark Venus, meanwhile, has no injury problems ahead of the game. Venus emerged from his first game in charge in the wake of Tony Mowbrays departure with a morale-boosting 4-0 victory over Doncaster at the Riverside Stadium. But more importantly, he did so with a full squad from which to choose ahead of the game at Ewood Park. Venus opted to make six changes with George Friend, Frazer Richardson, Seb Hines, Jacob Butterfield, Dean Whitehead and Lukas Jutkiewicz making way for Jonathan Woodgate, Daniel Ayala, Rhys Williams, Richard Smallwood, Mustapha Carayol and Marvin Emnes, and reaped the rewards of a series of bold decisions. It would be no surprise if he kept faith with the men who claimed the clubs biggest victory of the season to date as Boro attempt to drag themselves into the promotion race. Bournemouth could hand Lee Camp his Cherries debut in Saturdays Sky Bet Championship clash with Bolton at Dean Court. The Northern Ireland international joined the club on loan from West Brom on Thursday and could get the nod over Ryan Allsop, who started the 2-1 defeat at Leicester last weekend. Defender Elliott Ward was sent off in that loss and he will miss out through suspension. His absence is set to open the door for Tommy Elphick to be reunited with Steve Cook at the heart of the Cherries defence. Influential winger Matt Ritchie says he is at a good stage in his rehabilitation from a thigh injury picked up during pre-season but this match comes too soon for the former Swindon man. Meanwhile, Dougie Freedman has no new injury or suspension concerns as he looks to extend Boltons unbeaten run to a sixth game. The Trotters have only won once in the Sky Bet Championship all year but have lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with recent results. The only players definitely unavailable to the former Crystal Palace boss are goalkeeper Adam Bogdan (knee), full-back Marc Tierney (broken foot) and the trio of long-term knee injury victims Joe Riley, Mark Davies and Stuart Holden.# Full-back Kevin McNaughton extended his loan deal from Premier League club Cardiff in midweek and should retain his place in the back four. Paul Quinn is fit and available available for Doncasters Sky Bet Championship clash with Brighton at the Keepmoat Stadium. Quinn was replaced at half-time against Middlesbrough last Friday as on-loan QPR full-back Suk-Young Yun came on for his Rovers debut at the Riverside. Midfielder Richie Wellens comes back into the reckoning after a one-match suspension as manager Paul Dickov faces a selection dilemma over which formation to go with against Albion. Wellens could start at the expense of Dean Furman if Dickov retains the 4-4-2 formation used at Middlesbrough. Or, on the back of eight goals conceded in two games, Dickov may return to a more conservative 4-5-1 line up with Wellens replacing either striker Theo Robinson or midfielders Mark Duffy or James Coppinger. Meanwhile, Stephen Ward is the latest addition to Brightons casualty list ahead of the trip. The on-loan Wolves defender suffered a hamstring injury during Monday nights 1-1 draw with Watford and will not travel to the Keepmoat, so Inigo Calderon is set to deputise at left-back. Ward joins Andrea Orlandi, Will Hoskins, Kazenga LuaLua (all knee), Liam Bridcutt (hernia), Craig Mackail-Smith (Achilles), Kemy Agustien (hamstring) and Leonardo Ulloa (foot) in the treatment room. Agustien is closest to a return while Orlandi and Bridcutt are also stepping up their recoveries, but they are not expected to be involved against Rovers. Leeds new signing Marius Zaliukas could make his first appearance for the club in Saturdays Sky Bet Championship clash with Yeovil at Elland Road. The Lithuania international, a free agent following his release from Hearts in the summer, has signed until the end of the season and is expected to be included in Brian McDermotts squad. But Leeds could be without Sam Byram, who has only recently returned from a long-term hip injury. The right-back is struggling with a thigh problem and may require a late fitness test. Left-back Stephen Warnock sustained a knock in training and is also doubtful, while new loan signing Dexter Blackstock is hoping to make his home debut after stepping off the bench to score in last weeks defeat at Huddersfield. Yeovil, meanwhile, are waiting on the fitness of defender Dan Seaborne. The Glovers make the long trip in high spirits after a memorable 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend but they may have to manage without the former Southampton centre-back who suffered a problem in a reserve match with Torquay on Tuesday. Elsewhere, Johnson is unlikely to make too many changes as they search for back-to-back victories for the first time this season. Jimmy Abdou will be missing from the Millwall squad as he serves a one-match suspension. And injury concerns remain over winger Lee Martin, striker Martyn Waghorn and defenders Mark Beevers and Paul Connolly. Burnley will run the rule over midfield duo Scott Arfield and Dean Marney, who are suffering from groin and thigh problems. On-loan Stoke winger Michael Kightly is likely to be restored to the side. David Vaughan will go straight into the Nottingham Forest squad for Saturdays Sky Bet Championship clash with Blackpool at the City Ground. Vaughan, a former Tangerine player, joined the Reds on loan on Thursday and bolsters Billy Davies already healthy options in midfield. Davies faces a dilemma over whether to start with the Wales international. The Scot must also decide whether to hand another start to 19-year-old defender Jamaal Lascelles and the versatile Chilean Gonzalo Jara after the pair impressed in the defeat to Yeovil last weekend. The likes of Dan Harding, Jamie Mackie, Greg Halford, Jamie Paterson, Matt Derbyshire and Djamel Abdoun were all on the bench at Huish Park and are also options for Davies. Blackpool, meanwhile, will have as many as six absentees from their playing squad. Already missing their manager Paul Ince as he serves the third game of a five-match stadium ban, the Seasiders find themselves depleted on the playing side due to one suspension and five injuries. Jack Robinson was dismissed against Blackburn last Saturday in a fiery affair which has since led to both teams being charged by the FA, and the Liverpool loanee will miss the next four games after picking up his second red card of the season. Although on-loan Bradley Orr returns after being unavailable against his parent club Rovers, Chris Basham (ankle), Bob Harris (shoulder), Barry Ferguson (ankle), Isaiah Osbourne (ankle) and Craig Cathcart (knee) are all sidelined. QPR welcome back Joey Barton for Saturdays Sky Bet Championship clash with Derby at Loftus Road. The midfielder missed Wednesday nights goalless draw at Wigan after collecting five yellow cards this season. Barton could replace Niko Kranjcar in the squad after the Croation limped off in midweek with a hamstring problem. Centre-half Nedum Onouha (hamstring), midfielder Tom Carroll (ankle) and striker Bobby Zamora (knee) are still out, and although goalkeeper Julio Cesar (broken finger) and full-back Luke Young (hip) played for the reserves in midweek they are not expected to be involved. Derby head coach Steve McClaren, meanwhile, expects to have an unchanged squad for the trip. With Zak Whitbread (calf) still out Jake Buxton should continue in central defence, while Adam Smith and Andre Wisdom will battle it out for the right-back spot. Michael Jacobs provides an option in midfield and strikers Conor Sammon and Mason Bennett will also be hoping for recalls after starting on the bench against Birmingham last weekend. Jeff Hendrick, Adam Legzdins (both ankle), James Bailey, Paul Coutts, Mark OBrien, Shaun Barker (all knee), Johnny Russell (leg fracture), Saul Deeney (back) and Ben Davies (calf) remain out. McClaren spent three months coaching at QPR under Harry Redknapp prior to accepting the Derby job at the end of September. Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Seyi Olofinjana is poised to make his home debut in Saturdays Sky Bet Championship clash with Reading at Hillsborough. The Nigerian made his first Owls appearance in last weeks derby draw at Barnsley after signing a month-by-month deal. Striker Matty Fryatt will resume up front after extending his loan spell from Hull by a further month, but midfielder Jose Semedo will serve the second game of his three-match ban. Midfielder David Prutton (ankle) remains sidelined, but big forward Atdhe Nuhui, midfield pair Liam Palmer and Giles Coke, plus winger Jacques Maghoma are all pushing for recalls as Wednesdays search for a first win of the season continues. Alex McCarthy and Billy Sharp, meanwhile, could return to the Reading squad. Goalkeeper McCarthy has missed the last two matches with a knee injury and striker Sharp has managed just three minutes of action since joining on loan from Southampton in September due to a groin problem. But both players returned to training earlier this week and should be available to manager Nigel Adkins. However, Wayne Bridge is a doubt with a knee injury while Royston Drenthe, Danny Williams (both foot), Jem Karacan (cruciate), Jason Roberts (hip) and Mikele Leigertwood (ankle) are still out. Marc Albrighton could make his first start for Wigan in Saturdays Sky Bet Championship clash with Huddersfield at the DW Stadium. Albrighton, brought in from Aston Villa, came off the bench against QPR on Wednesday night just hours after receiving confirmation he would be eligible to play and is primed to go from the start should boss Owen Coyle make changes. Lee Nicholls has now kept back-to-back clean sheets in the absence of Scott Carson (ankle) and will continue in goal for the next few weeks with Ali Al-Habsi (hip) also missing. Centre-back Ivan Ramis featured in a friendly in midweek and is nearing a return from his knee injury but Scotland international Shaun Maloney and club captain Gary Caldwell (both hip) remain out. Huddersfield pair Adam Clayton and Martin Paterson, meanwhile, are hoping to return to the squad. Midfielder Clayton and striker Paterson were left out of the matchday squad for last weeks win over Leeds amid reports of a training ground bust-up, while boss Mark Robins insisted their omission was purely for tactical reasons. Leading goalscorer James Vaughan sits out the second game of his three-match ban, so Jon Stead is likely to retain his place after firing the winner against Leeds. Teenager Duane Holmes remains in contention after making his full debut last week, but Sean Scannell, Oliver Norwood and Oscar Gobern are all pushing for recalls.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 11:42:57 +0000
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