CHAMPIONSHIP
Blackpool v Charlton 3pm Stephen Crainey is a major doubt for Blackpool
because of a shin injury. Ian Evatt and Michael Jackson are also unlikely to
feature owing to hamstring problems, but the goalkeeper Kaspars Gorkss
returns from suspension. Lee Cook is on loan from Fulham and could start for
Charlton, while Sam Sodje is set to replace the suspended Kelly Youga.
Colchester United v Bristol City 3pm Colchester will definitely be
without the influential midfield player Mark Yeates who has a shoulder
injury. Dean Hammond, however, is likely to be fit after overcoming a calf
injury. Bristol City could bring back their captain Louis Carey, providing
he recovers from a toe problem.
Coventry City v Leicester City 3pm Coventry will be without their
captain Michael Doyle after their appeal against the red card he received
last week was rejected. Stephen Hughes is back after an ankle injury.
Leicester expect Joe Mattock and Richard Stearman to be be fit after being
injured last weekend.
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers 3pm Crystal Palace are waiting
to find out if Neil Danns can recover from a groin strain. Clinton Morrison
may return to the starting line-up at Shefki Kuqi’s expense. Paul Ifill
could also feature after injury. Wolves, who recall four players who were
cup-tied last week, will give a test to Matt Jarvis (hip).
Norwich City v Barnsley 3pm Norwich will be without three players
through suspension - Dion Dublin, Darel Russell and Mark Fotheringham. Matty
Pattison and Ryan Bertrand are back in the squad after injuries. Luke Steele
will be rewarded for his heroics against Liverpool in the FA Cup with a
place in the Barnsley team ahead of Tony Warner. Jon Macken and Lewin
Nyatanga return to the side after being cup-tied.
Plymouth Argyle v Burnley 3pm Plymouth, who must give a fitness test to
Marcel Seip, will give a debut to Russell Anderson following his loan move
from Sunderland.. Burnley will be without their on-loan forward Andrew Cole,
who has an Achilles problem, but Clarke Carlisle is fit again.
QPR v Sheffield United 3pm Fitz Hall could be back for QPR. The
defender has been sidelined with a groin injury, but is now training again.
Akos Buzsaky is suspended. Lee Martin and Billy Sharp are the main injury
concerns for Sheffield United, who will recall Gary Speed following recovery
from injury.
Scunthorpe v Southampton 3pm Geoff Horsfield is the only new injury
doubt for Scunthorpe, who will test his hamstring before the kick-off. Grant
McCann is suspended. Ian Pearce, signed on loan from Fulham, will make his
debut for Southampton, who are still without seven key players because of
injuries and suspension.
Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff 3pm Graham Kavanagh has recovered from a
hamstring problem and is set to figure in the Sheffield Wednesday midfield,
but Francis Jeffers and Akpo Sodje are still missing. Ben Sahars is in the
squad after moving on loan from Chelsea. Darren Purse is back in the Cardiff
team after a two-month absence in place of the injured Glenn Loovens.
Stoke City v Ipswich Town 3pm Carl Dickinson is pencilled in to replace
the suspended Danny Pugh at full-back in the Stokoe team. Ipswich, who have
named an 18-man squad, are expected to be unchanged.
Watford v Preston 3pm Jay DeMerit is back in the reckoning for Watford
after a calf injury, but they are still without Collins John and Damien
Francis. Darren Carter is out of Preston’s plans through suspension, but
Sean St Ledger has completed his ban.
West Brom v Hull 3pm Jonathan Greening is expected to return to the
West Brom midfield after suspension, while Robert Koren has recovered from a
calf injury. Dean Windass, Andy Dawson and Richard Garcia are back for Hull,
but Nick Barmby has been ruled out for two weeks with a groin strain.
LEAGUE ONE
Bournemouth v Cheltenham 3pm Bournemouth have only 13 senior players
available, with Danny Hollands serving a one-match suspension and Russell
Perrett ruled out with respiratory problems. For Cheltenham, Alex Russell
remains sidelined with a stomach injury and Craig Armstrong continues to
deputise.
Brighton v Oldham 3pm Brighton’s recent problems are easing with
forward Jonny (CORR) Dixon added to the squad and defender Adam El-Abd
returning from suspension. The Oldham goalkeeper Les Pogliacomi has been
ruled out for 12 months with a knee injury while forward Lee Hughes and
midfielder Jean-Paul Kalala are still one week from a return.
Bristol Rovers v Tranmere 3pm Anthony Pulis returns to the Bristol
Rovers squad after being cup-tied last weekend. Tranmere must decide which
two players will start in attack as Calvin Zola is fit again and competing
with Ian Moore and Chris Greenacre for places.
Carlisle United v Doncaster 3pm Scott Dobie is in contention for a
return to the Carlisle side after recovering from a hamstring injury ahead
of schedule, but their captain Paul Thirlwell is out with an ankle injury.
Doncaster give late fitness tests to midfielder James Coppinger (shoulder)
and defender James O’Connor (groin).
Gillingham v Huddersfield 3pm New signing Danny Cullip could make his
Gillingham debut in place of Adam Bygrave, while Stuart Lewis is also in
contention for his first start for the club. Mark Bentley (Achilles) is the
only absentee. Huddersfield captain Jon Worthington could return after a
hamstring injury but defender David Mirfin (back) is a doubt.
Leeds United v Crewe 3pm Leeds forward Jermaine Beckford serves a
one-match suspension with Tore Andre Flo, Anthony Elding or Sebastien Carole
poised to step in. Crewe centre-half Julien Baudet faces a late fitness test
on a calf injury, but forward Byron Moore is available after recovering from
injury.
Leyton Orient v Nottingham Forest 3pm Central defender Tamika
Mkandawire has a hernia problem and is the only absentee from the Leyton
Orient squad as Andy Barcham and Charlie Daniels return from minor injuries.
Nottingham Forest are expected to field three central defenders, meaning a
call-up for Ian Breckin alongside Kelvin Wilson and Wes Morgan.
Millwall v Port Vale 3pm Ryan Smith (knee) and Tom Brighton (ankle) are
pressing for places in the Millwall line-up after making reserve team
returns from long-term injuries in midweek. Port Vale have problems at
left-back where Jason Talbot and Adam Eckersley are injured. Winger Paul
Edwards could fill in.
Swindon v Walsall 3pm Swindon’s Simon Cox returns from a one-match
suspension, but fellow forward Barry Corr (shoulder) is still out and
midfielder Lee Peacock (groin) faces a late fitness test. Walsall, inactive
last weekend, should be able to welcome back forward Tommy Mooney and
midfield players Mark Bradley and Darren Wrack after injuries.
Yeovil v Southend 3pm The Yeovil defender Nathan Jones is out for eight
weeks after breaking his arm last weekend, but fellow defender Scott Guyett
could be available after tests showed he only suffered bruised ribs. The
Southend forward Alex Revell requires a hernia operation and is out, along
with Damian Scannell (suspension) and Hal Robson-Kanu (hamstring).
LEAGUE TWO
Accrington Stanley v Stockport 3pm The former Accrington forward Andrew
Mangan will play after returning to the club on loan from Bury. Leighton
McGiven is still injured and James Harris is banned. Conrad Logan, the
Stockport goalkeeper, is suspended, so John Ruddy will play after moving on
loan from Everton. Shaleum Logan could start after signing on loan from
Manchester City.
Barnet v Milton Keynes Dons 3pm Barnet’s Neal Bishop is suspended and
they must give fitness tests to Jason Punchon and Kieron St Aimie. The MK
Dons winger Mark Wright will be out for the next month because of a torn
hamstring, but Felix Bastians is in the squad after moving on loan from
Nottingham Forest.
Bury v Darlington 3pm Bury are without their defender Ben Futcher, who
is suspended. Darlington are also hit by bans, with Alan White, Greg
Blundell and Tommy Wright missing. Forwards Pawel Abbott and Guylain
Ndumbu-Nsungu will return from injury. Richie Foran could also be fit again.
Chesterfield v Brentford 3pm Chesterfield will give debuts to Peter
Hartley and David Dowson, two teenagers who have moved on loan from
Sunderland. Gregor Robertson will be missing for a month with a thigh
strain. Brentford expect to be without Kevin O’Connor, who is troubled by a
hamstring injury.
Dagenham & Redbridge v Morecambe 3pm Dagenham, likely to be
unchanged after scoring 10 goals in their last two games, are still without
Ed Thompson, Shane Huke and Paul Benson. Jim Bentley could miss his first
game of the season for Morecambe because of a calf injury.
Macclesfield v Peterborough 3pm Terry Dunfield is out of the
Macclesfield team because of a suspension, while a hamstring problem
sidelines Martin Gritton. Peterborough have added Scott Rendell to their
squad after signing him from Cambridge United, but Micah Hyde is still
injured.
Mansfield v Chester 3pm Jon D’Laryea will be recalled to the Mansfield
defence because Lee Bell’s knee injury has ruled him out for the rest of the
season. Chester are expected to bring in Chris Holroyd in place of Craig
Lindfield, who has returned to Liverpool at the end of his loan deal.
Notts County v Bradford City 3pm Notts County are likely to be
unchanged, having lost just one of their last seven games. Bradford are
still without defender Mark Bower (knee), while David Wetherall will
continue to lead the side despite announcing his decision to retire at the
end of the season.
Rochdale v Wycombe Wanderers 3pm Rochdale will be without goalkeeper
Sam Russell, who is sidelined for six weeks with a broken finger. James
Spencer will replace him. Lee Thorpe is also out through a suspension.
Wycombe have no new injury problems and are expected to be unchanged.
Rotherham v Lincoln City 3pm Rotherham will bring back Ian Sharps, who
missed last weekend’s game at Wycombe with illness. Gary Croft, the Lincoln
defender, is poised to make his first appearance since Boxing Day after
recovering from a calf injury.
Shrewsbury v Hereford 3pm Ben Davies, the Shrewsbury captain, is out
for the next fortnight with a hamstring injury. Darren Kempson, the
defender, is also injured and Colin Murdock is banned. Hereford could recall
Ben Smith after groin injury while new signing Stephen Gleeson is expected
to make his debut.
