Team news for the opening weekend of the premiership

Today

Charlton v Everton

Alan Curbishley is without a host of regular first-team players. Captain Mark Kinsella and Welsh winger John Robinson are recovering from operations, Mathias Svensson and Radostin Kishishev will both miss the opening three months of the campaign with long-term injuries and Claus Jensen’s bruised foot has not healed.

Everton are without £4.5million new signing Tomasz Radzinski and Scottish international Gary Naysmith. The Polish-born Canadian international is suffering from a hamstring injury while Naysmith is struggling with a thigh problem.

Last five league matches: Charlton DWWLL, Everton LLWLD

Match Odds: H 5-6 A 13-5 D 23-10

Ref: N Barry (Scunthorpe)

Derby v Blackburn

Fabrizio Ravanelli makes his competitive debut for Derby but the Rams are hit by injuries and suspensions. Deon Burton, Seth Johnson and Adam Murray are all out with bans carried over from last season while Stefano Eranio, Horacio Carbonari, Branko Strupar, Simo Valakari and Yaul Mawene are confined to the treatment room.

Striker Corrado Grabbi is set to make his debut for Rovers following his £7million move from Italian club Ternana. However another new recruit, Turkish international Tugay, is suspended and will miss out. Alan Mahon (knee) played for the reserves in midweek and is named in the squad.

Last five league matches: Derby WLLWD, Blackburn DWWWD

Top Scorers: Malcolm Christie (Derby) 1, Damien Duff (Blackburn) 1

Match Odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 11-5

Ref: P Durkin (Portland)

Leeds v Southampton

Rio Ferdinand is expected to captain the side at Elland Road after missing England’s midweek friendly, although the man whom he replaced as skipper, Lucas Radebe, is missing with a long-term knee problem. Michael Bridges, who has not played since September, is also out but Eirik Bakke and Stephen McPhail should figure.

Record signing Rory Delap will make his debut at right-back for the Saints following his £4million signing from Derby in the summer. Captain Jason Dodd is still struggling to recover from a knee injury which ruled him out of the end of last season.

Last five league matches: Leeds WWLWW, Southampton LDLWW

Match Odds: H 4-11 A 7-1 D 11-4

Ref: C Wilkes (Gloucester)

Leicester v Bolton

NEW Leicester goalkeeper Ian Walker misses the opening game of the season through suspension after being sent off for Tottenham reserves. That leaves Tim Flowers and Simon Royce fighting for the number one spot.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce will give veteran central defender Colin Hendry a late fitness test. The Scottish international has been struggling to shake off a knee injury collected in a pre-season warm-up game last week. Striker Dean Holdsworth is unlikely to start after missing most of the club’s friendlies with a knee injury.

Last five league matches: Leicester LLLWL, Bolton LWWWD

Match Odds: H 8-11 A 3-1 D 12-5

Ref: R Styles (Waterlooville)

Liverpool v West Ham

SANDER Westerveld is a doubt after aggravating a thigh injury in the Charity Shield final last Sunday and that puts Pegguy Arphexad on stand-by. Boss Gerard Houllier also has worries over Emile Heskey and Steven Gerrard, while Robbie Fowler misses out again following a training ground bust-up.

West Ham are reeling after having new goalkeeper David James ruled out with knee ligament damage. Shaka Hislop, who expected to start the season on the bench, gets a reprieve and will replace James. Striker Paul Kitson has a hamstring problem and may be replaced by Svetoslav Todorov.

Last five league matches: Liverpool WWWDW, West Ham LLLWL

Top Scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 4, Jermain Defoe (West Ham) 2

Match Odds: H 4-11 A 7-1 D 11-4

Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)

Middlesbrough v Arsenal

NEW boys Gareth Southgate, Jonathan Greening and Mark Wilson could all make their debuts for Boro but Slovakian striker Szilard Nemeth is still recovering from a hernia operation while Dean Gordon (thigh), Noel Whelan (foot) and Carlos Marinelli (calf) are also out.

Sol Campbell is set for his Arsenal debut after Martin Keown was ruled out with the knee injury sustained on England duty. Brazilian midfielder Edu, who has a back problem, is Arsenal’s only other injury absentee but £4million Japanese midfielder Junichi Inamoto ‘‘still needs time to adjust to English football’’.

Last five league matches: Middlesbrough LWLDW, Arsenal WWWDL

Top Scorers: Junichi Inamoto (Arsenal) 2

Match Odds: H 11-5 A Evs D 11-5

Ref: G Barber (Tring)

Sunderland v Ipswich

NIALL Quinn (ankle) and Alex Rae (knee) are both welcomed back into the Sunderland squad after proving themselves fit for the start of the new Premiership campaign. There are also places in the squad for summer signings Lilian Laslandes, David Bellion, Nicholas Medina and Bernt Haas, but midfielder Don Hutchison misses out through suspension.

Ipswich hope to field Nigerian international Finidi George, but are still waiting clearance from Real Mallorca. Goalkeeper Matteo Sereni will definitely make his debut following his record signing from Sampdoria, however Mark Venus (rib) and Gary Croft (groin) are both out while striker Alun Armstrong (back) is a doubt.

Last five league matches: Sunderland LDWWD, Ipswich WWLWD

Match Odds: H 5-6 A 13-5 D 23-10

Ref: G Poll (Tring)

Tottenham v Aston Villa

TEDDY Sheringham is optimistic he will be fit to captain Spurs. The England striker hopes to shake off an Achilles injury and Darren Anderton is also hoping to recover from a similar problem.

Darius Vassell may not figure after twisting his knee with England under-21s in midweek and Ian Taylor is definitely out. Summer signing Olof Mellberg could start in place of Gareth Barry while new centre-forward Bosko Balaban is still awaiting his work permit.

Last five league matches: Tottenham LLDLW, Aston Villa DDDWL

Top Scorers: Lee Hendrie, Darius Vassell (Aston Villa) 2

Match Odds: H 10-11 A 12-5 D 9-4

Ref: D gallagher (Banbury)

Tomorrow

Chelsea v Newcastle

NEW signings Emmanuel Petit, Frank Lampard and Boudewijn Zenden are set to make their Chelsea debuts, while William Gallas is contesting the right-back spot with Mario Melchiot. Mark Bosnich should start in goal ahead of Carlo Cudicini (knee), while Albert Ferrer and Sam dalla Bona are out.

Newcastle will give late fitness tests to midfielder Gary Speed and striker Shola Ameobi. Speed has a hamstring problem while Ameobi damaged his groin in Rob Lee’s testimonial game last Saturday. Frenchman Laurent Robert will be handed a competitive debut, but Peruvian midfielder Nolberto Solano may have to make do with a place on the bench.

Last five league matches: Chelsea LLWDW, Newcastle WDLDW

Top Scorers: Mikael Forssell (Chelsea) 1, Laurent Robert (Newcastle) 4

Match Odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 9-4

Ref: A D’Urso (Billericay)

Man Utd v Fulham

NICKY Butt (knee) has been ruled out for United but Phil Neville (back) is still in contention. Skipper Roy Keane is serving the last match of the suspension he incurred for his kick on Alfie Haaland in the Manchester derby last season and with Juan Sebastian Veron only due back from international duty in South America today, the champions’ midfield options are already stretched.

Fulham manager Jean Tigana will take an injury-free squad to Old Trafford but he must make do without two of his stars who will serve suspensions incurred at the end of last season. Striker Luis Boa Morte will miss the first three games of the new campaign, while defender Rufus Brevett serves his one-match ban at the home of the champions.

Last five league matches: Man Utd DWLLL, Fulham DDWDL

Top Scorers: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 2

Match Odds: H 2-7 A 15-2 D 10-3

Ref: P Jones (Loughborough)