Big guns could be back for Super Sunday: Team news from the Premier League
All the team news from around the grounds ahead of Week 23 in the Premier League.
Saturday 12.45pm
New Norwich signings forward Steven Naismith and full-back Ivo Pinto are both expected to be in the squad for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League match against Liverpool.
Manager Alex Neil will also make a late decision on whether to include Swiss defender Timm Klose, who joined the Norfolk club from Wolfsburg earlier this week, but otherwise the Canaries report no fresh injury problems following the defeat at Bournemouth, which was a third straight loss.
Midfielder Gary O’Neil continues to serve a three-match ban following his red card at Stoke, while on-loan Liverpool defender Andre Wisdom is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Provisional Squad: Rudd, Bennett, Bassong, Martin, Brady, Howson, Tettey, Odjidja Ofoe, Jarvis, Hoolahan, Naismith, Ruddy, Pinto, Jerome, Mbokani, Mulumbu, Olsson, Wisdom, Dorrans, Redmond, Klose.
Forward Adam Lallana is a doubt for Liverpool’s trip to Norwich with a minor muscle problem.
Manager Jurgen Klopp will revert to his strongest line-up having made numerous changes for the midweek FA Cup win over Exeter.
His main decision will be over whom to play up front as Christian Benteke was involved in two of the midweek goals but looked desperately short of confidence and Roberto Firmino has been the preferred option in a false nine role.
Provisional squad: Mignolet, Clyne, Toure, Sakho, Moreno, Henderson, Lucas, Can, Milner, Firmino, Ibe, Ward, Caulker, Smith, Allen, Teixeira, Benteke, Lallana, Ojo.
Saturday 3pm
Louis Van Gaal has suffered more injury woe with the news that Ashley Young requires surgery on a groin injury and could be ruled out for the rest of the season.
Young limped out of last week’s 1-0 win at Liverpool just before half-time and he has now become the fourth of Manchester United’s full-back options to be ruled out ahead of Saturday’s match with Southampton.
Bastian Schweinsteiger remains sidelined with a knee injury and Phil Jones (ankle), Antonio Valencia (foot), Luke Shaw (leg), Marcos Rojo (shoulder) and Michael Carrick (knee) are also still out.
Provisional squad: De Gea, Romero, Varela, Darmian, Borthwick-Jackson, Jones,Smalling, Blind, McNair, Schneiderlin, Herrera, Fellaini, Depay, Lingard, Powell, Mata, Pereira, Martial, Rooney, Keane.
Southampton have added Charlie Austin to their squad for the trip to Manchester United.
The striker, a £4million signing from QPR last weekend, has proved his fitness following a recent hamstring injury and could make his debut at Old Trafford.
Graziano Pelle is a doubt with an ongoing knee problem while Jay Rodriguez (foot) and Florian Gardos (knee) are still on the sidelines.
Provisional squad: Forster, Stekelenburg, Martina, Van Dijk, Fonte, Yoshida, Soares, Bertrand, Targett, Clasie, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Wanyama. S Davis, Tadic, Mane, Austin, Long, Pelle, Juanmi.
Saturday 3pm
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri will revert to a familiar starting line-up when his title contenders resume Barclays Premier League action at home to Stoke on Saturday.
The Italian made nine changes against Tottenham in the FA Cup in midweek and the likes of Wes Morgan, Robert Huth, Ngolo Kante, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy will return to the team.
Ritchie De Laet was due to start Wednesday night’s third-round replay but withdrew after suffering a groin injury in the warm-up and the right-back is a doubt. Matty James (knee) is nearing a return but Jeffrey Schlupp (hamstring) will not be back until towards the end of February.
Provisional squad: Schmeichel, Schwarzer, Simpson, Chilwell, De Laet, Fuchs, Wasilewski, Benalouane, Huth, Morgan, King, Drinkwater, Kante, James, Albrighton, Inler, Gray, Mahrez, Dyer, Vardy, Ulloa, Okazaki.
Stoke winger Xherdan Shaqiri could make his return to action in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Leicester at the King Power Stadium.
Shaqiri, sidelined by a hamstring injury of late but back in training on Thursday, will be assessed by boss Mark Hughes, who is also monitoring a hamstring issue forward Marko Arnautovic has been playing with.
Hughes will definitely still be without Geoff Cameron (ankle) and Shay Given (knee) for what is the first of four away games for the Potters in quick succession, but Stephen Ireland, Marc Muniesa and Phil Bardsley are all now fit for selection.
Provisional squad: Butland, Haugaard, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Wilson, Muniesa, Johnson, Pieters, Bardsley, Whelan, Van Ginkel, Adam, Sidwell, Ireland, Arnautovic, Afellay, Bojan, Shaqiri, Walters, Diouf, Joselu, Crouch, Odemwingie.
Saturday 3pm
Forward Nordin Amrabat could make his debut for Watford in their Barclays Premier League clash against Newcastle on Saturday.
Manager Quique Sanchez Flores confirmed Amrabat, who completed his £6million move from Malaga earlier this week, will be involved. Goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, a new signing from Sunderland, is also likely to be included in the matchday squad.
Defenders Tommie Hoban (groin) and Joel Ekstrand (knee) remain unavailable.
Provisional squad: Gomes, Britos, Prodl, Holebas, Nyom, Abdi, Jurado, Watson, Capoue, Deeney, Ighalo, Pantilimon, Cathcart, Ake, Ibarbo, Anya, Paredes, Guedioura, Behrami, Amrabat.
Newcastle boss Steve McClaren is facing a defensive crisis ahead of Saturday’s Barclays Premier League trip to Watford.
The Magpies head coach has lost left-backs Paul Dummett and Kevin Mbabu to hamstring injuries and Jack Colback, who filled in last weekend after Dummett’s premature departure against West Ham, is out with a similar problem, leaving Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini and Jamaal Lascelles as the only match-fit senior defenders.
Mike Williamson (hamstring) and Massadio Haidara (knee) remain on the sidelines, and while Steven Taylor is back in the squad after five months out with a hamstring problem, Cheick Tiote is unavailable as he attempts to tie up a move to Shanghai Shenhua and fellow midfielder Siem de Jong (eye) is still out.
Provisional squad: Elliot, Darlow, Janmaat, Sterry, Coloccini, Mbemba, Lascelles, Taylor, Sterry, Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Shelvey, Saivet, Thauvin, Gouffran, Aarons, Mitrovic, Perez, Riviere.
Saturday 3pm
Dwight Gayle will not feature for Crystal Palace as they face Tottenham in the Barclays Premier League, on the instructions of the club doctors.
The 25-year-old has returned to full training after a hamstring injury but manager Alan Pardew told reporters he will not be involved in Saturday’s match.
The Eagles boss intends to play Wayne Hennessey in goal despite classing him as “battered and bruised” but Yannick Bolasie (hip/thigh), Damien Delaney (knock) and Kwesi Appiah (knee) are all unavailable.
Provisional squad: Hennessey, Bamford, Cabaye, Campbell, Chamakh, Dann, Hangeland, Jedinak, Kelly, Ledley, Lee, McArthur, McCarthy, Mutch, Puncheon, Sako, Souare, Wickham, Zaha.
Ryan Mason will miss Tottenham’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace as he continues to struggle with his niggling ankle problem.
The England midfielder has not played since suffering his ankle complaint in the goalless draw against Chelsea on November 29.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino should restore a number of regulars after mixing up selection for Wednesday’s 2-0 FA Cup third-round replay victory at Leicester.
Provisional squad: Lloris, Vorm, Walker, Rose, Trippier, Davies, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Vertonghen, Dembele, Carter-Vickers, Fazio, Winks, Dier, Alli, Carroll, Bentaleb, Townsend, Eriksen, Onomah, Chadli, Lamela, Son, Kane.
Saturday 3pm
Dame N’Doye could be handed a Sunderland debut in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Bournemouth.
The 30-year-old striker, who has joined the club on loan from Trabzonspor for the rest of the season, has received his international clearance and will be in the squad – and could be involved, with Steven Fletcher reporting illness on Thursday.
Full-back DeAndre Yedlin returns after being ineligible for last weekend’s trip to parent club Tottenham, but goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon and striker Danny Graham left for Watford and Blackburn respectively earlier this week, while defender Younes Kaboul (hamstring) and midfielder Sebastian Larsson (knee) are still out.
Provisional squad: Pickford, Mannone, Van Aanholt, Yedlin, O’Shea, Jones, Coates, Kirchhoff, Beadling, Cattermole, Rodwell, Lens, Borini, M’Vila, Toivonen, Johnson, Watmore, Fletcher, Defoe, N’Doye.
Record signing Benik Afobe will undergo a late fitness test in his bid to lead Bournemouth’s attack at Sunderland in Saturday’s Premier League clash.
The former Wolves forward limped out of last weekend’s 3-0 win over Norwich and faces a race against time to play against the Black Cats.
Bournemouth will also run the last-minute rule over Matt Ritchie (hip) and Josh King (hamstring).
Provisional Squad: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Arter, Surman, Stanislas, Gosling, Ritchie, Afobe, Federici, Grabban, Pugh, Distin, O’Kane, Iturbe, Murray, King, Afobe.
Saturday 3pm
West Brom boss Tony Pulis described his squad as “threadbare” as injuries mount ahead of the visit of midlands neighbours Aston Villa.
Chris Brunt (calf), Jonas Olsson (hamstring) and Darren Fletcher (knee) look to set to miss the derby clash at the Hawthorns on Saturday alongside long-term absentee James Morrison, who will be absent for around two months with a hamstring injury.
Sebastien Pocognoli, who replaced Brunt against Bristol City in midweek when he went off injured, and Victor Anichebe could keep their places in the team as Albion attempt to complete a league double over Villa for the first time in 42 years.
Provisional squad: Myhill, Foster, Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Pocognoli, Rondon, Evans, Sessegnon, Berahino, Brunt, Yacob, McClean, Gardner, Anichebe, Chester, Lambert, McManaman.
Remi Garde is expected to name the same starting line-up for the third Barclays Premier League game in a row when Aston Villa make the short trip to midlands rivals West Brom.
The Villa boss is likely to stick with the team that earned four points from the home matches against Crystal Palace and Leicester, meaning he will make nine changes from the side he sent out for the FA Cup third-round replay with Wycombe in midweek.
Midfielder Carlos Sanchez will undergo a fitness test but full-back Alan Hutton (hamstring) remains out while striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who has played only one minute of football since Garde took over at the beginning of November, is also likely to be missing again after reporting a new injury problem.
Provisional squad: Guzan, Bunn, Richards, Bacuna, Clark, Lescott, Okore, Richardson, Lyden, Cissokho, Westwood, Sanchez, Gil, Gana, Veretout, Grealish, Agbonlahor, N’Zogbia, Sinclair, Gestede, Kozak, Ayew.
Saturday 5.30pm
James Tomkins is an injury doubt for West Ham ahead of their Barclays Premier League clash against Manchester City.
The defender, who sustained a knock in the 2-1 defeat against Newcastle, trained individually on Thursday and faces a late fitness test.
Joey O’Brien is back in contention after recovering from a long-term injury, but Andy Carroll (hamstring), Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini (both thigh) remain sidelined.
Provisional squad: Adrian, Randolph, Jenkinson, Hendrie, Tomkins, Collins, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble, Kouyate, Song, Obiang, Zarate, Moses, Payet, O’Brien, Valencia, Antonio, Cullen, Oxford, Jelavic.
Manchester City have Fernandinho back available for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League clash with West Ham at Upton Park.
The midfielder has missed the last three games due to a muscle injury but returned to training this week and has been passed fit for the match in London by boss Manuel Pellegrini.
Aleksandar Kolarov has been ruled out after coming off in the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace with a calf problem, and joins fellow defenders Eliaquim Mangala (hamstring) and Vincent Kompany (calf), plus midfielder Samir Nasri (hamstring) and striker Wilfried Bony (calf), on the sidelines.
Provisional squad: Hart, Caballero, Zabaleta, Sagna, Demichelis, Otamendi, Clichy, Humphreys, Toure, Fernando, Fernandinho, Delph, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Navas, Aguero, Iheanacho.
Sunday 1.30pm
Everton midfielder James McCarthy and defender Seamus Coleman have returned to training this week but may not be quite ready for Sunday’s visit of Swansea.
McCarthy has played just once since late November because of a groin problem while Coleman has missed three matches with a calf injury.
Midfielder Tom Cleverley, an unused substitute at Chelsea last weekend, may get a run-out while there are no injury worries over Steven Pienaar or Bryan Oviedo.
Provisional squad: Howard, Oviedo, Stones, Jagielka, Baines, Barry, Besic, Barkley, Mirallas, Lennon, Lukaku, Robles, Funes Mori, Cleverley, Osman, Pienaar, Kone, Deulofeu.
Sunday 4pm
Arsenal could welcome back both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil for their Barclays Premier League clash against Chelsea on Sunday.
Sanchez has been missing since November with a hamstring issue and Ozil sat out last weekend’s draw at Stoke due to a foot injury – but the pair are expected to start against the Blues.
Mohamed Elneny is still awaiting his Arsenal debut with fellow midfielder Francis Coquelin back in training following a knee injury but will not feature, nor will Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla (both knee) or Jack Wilshere (leg).
Provisional squad: Cech, Ospina, Macey, Monreal, Gibbs, Koscielny, Gabriel, Mertesacker, Bellerin, Debuchy, Chambers, Ramsey, Elneny, Rosicky, Flamini, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Reine-Adelaide, Iwobi, Sanchez, Campbell, Walcott, Giroud.
Eden Hazard and Diego Costa could play for Chelsea in Sunday’s Premier League clash at Arsenal.
Belgium playmaker Hazard has missed the last three matches with a groin injury, but returned to training this week.
Striker Costa suffered a bruised shin against Everton last Saturday, but is also in contention to feature, while striker Radamel Falcao (thigh) remains out.
Provisional squad: Courtois, Begovic, Ivanovic, Fabregas, Zouma, Rahman, Ramires, Oscar, Mikel, Traore, Kenedy, Pedro, Remy, Costa, Matic, Willian, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Amelia, Aina, Loftus-Cheek.
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