[Bigkegman]

Aston Villa v Everton

Juan Pablo Angel could be restored to the Aston Villa starting line-up alongside Milan Baros. Skipper and central defender Olof Mellberg and striker Kevin Phillips are still both sidelined with hamstring and ankle problems respectively.

Tim Cahill is doubtful after not training all week with a calf problem. Marcus Bent (hamstring) and James Beattie (foot) are also doubts. Defender Joseph Yobo has a shoulder injury so Per Kroldrup is standing by for his first team debut.

Charlton v Arsenal

Charlton welcome back Jason Euell and striker Kevin Lisbie to the squad. Striker Jay Bothroyd has also resumed training although he is still awaiting the all-clear after he suffered a black-out two weeks ago. He is expected to feature at some time over the festive period.

Jose Antonio Reyes (thigh) is back in contention for Arsenal, while Thierry Henry faces a Christmas Eve fitness test on an Achilles injury. Robin van Persie (knee) is doubtful, while Quincy Owusu-Abeyie will be ruled out for up to a month with another knee problem.

Chelsea v Fulham

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho still has doubts over left-back Asier del Horno and Damien Duff. Duff is back in training following the Achilles problem which forced him out of Chelsea's 1-0 win over Wigan a fortnight ago and could be handed a place on the bench. Del Horno missed the victory over Arsenal at Highbury with a leg injury and remains a major doubt for the visit of their west London neighbours.

Steed Malbranque has been ruled out of the entire Christmas schedule with a hamstring injury. Papa Bouba Diop (ankle) and striker Collins John (hamstring) are rated 50/50 for the Boxing Day derby against Chelsea. Skipper Luis Boa Morte is struggling with a knee problem while USA defender Carlos Bocanegra (Achilles) is expected to make the bench.

Liverpool v Newcastle

Liverpool expect to have Dietmar Hamann available after hemissed the Club World Championship games in Japan with a knee problem. He is expected to play in central midfield against his old club, with Mohamed Sissoko suspended.

Newcastle midfielder Scott Parker will be missing through suspension but Stephen Carr (hernia), Celestine Babayaro (groin), Steven Taylor (shoulder), Emre (hamstring) and Charles N'Zogbia (broken hand) are back in contention. Kieron Dyer and Craig Moore (both hamstring) remain on the sidelines.

Man Utd v West Brom

Cristiano Ronaldo is suspended but Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Edwin van der Sar are all expected to return for United after missing the midweek Carling Cup win at Birmingham. Louis Saha could find himself on the bench despite scoring twice at St Andrews.

West Brom manager Bryan Robson has a full squad to choose from. Hungarian midfielder Zoltan Gera and experienced defender Steve Watson are expected to return. Gera has recovered following a hernia operation and Watson (hamstring) is also fit.

Middlesbrough v Blackburn

Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng could be sidelined for up to eight weeks by an ankle ligament injury. However, Gaizka Mendieta is in contention to replace him after shaking off a calf problem, Szilard Nemeth returns to the squad following a hamstring strain and Mark Viduka has recovered from a cold.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes is forced to reshuffle his side as striker Paul Dickov and defender Lucas Neill are both suspended. Craig Bellamy remains doubtful with a hamstring strain and Shefki Kuqi looks likely to retain his place in the starting line-up.

Portsmouth v West Ham

Portsmouth are without midfielder Salif Diao (hamstring) and striker Vincent Pericard (thigh) but boss Harry Redknapp hopes Lomana LuaLua has time to recover from a hamstring injury which kept him out of training yesterday. Midfielder Richard Hughes hopes to play on despite a broken hand, although Aliou Cisse could come into contention if the latter is not fit. Goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown is also still troubled by a knee problem and Uruguayan Dario Silva is likely to figure in some of the holiday matches.

Nigel Reo-Coker has recovered from a fracturedankle and is fit for the visit to Portsmouth where he will replace Yossi Benayoun (groin). Teddy Sheringham is still struggling with a calf strain so Marlon Harewood and Bobby Zamora are set to continue up front. Danny Gabbidon is still recovering from anasty gash to the knee.

Sunderland v Bolton

Sunderland are without suspended defender Nyron Nosworthy. With Stephen Wright picking up a thigh injury on his return to action in a midweek reserves fixture, Justin Hoyte will switch to right-back with either Danny Collins or Julio Arca filling the void on the other flank. Central defender Alan Stubbs (groin) comes into contention but Stephen Elliott (back) is out and with Andy Gray (Achilles) struggling, Daryl Murphy has been recalled from a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday.

Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf could return to the starting line-up after Hidetoshi Nakata failed to make an impact in the Carling Cup defeat by Wigan in midweek. There might also be in recall for French defender BrunoN'Gotty. He could come in for Radhi Jaidi, who was also out of sorts in the cup game.

Tottenham v Birmingham

Jermain Defoe is a major doubt for Tottenham with ankle ligament damage and will have a late fitness test. Andy Reid and Teemu Tainio (both knee) are out but Wayne Routledge and Aaron Lennon are back in training and in contention for a start in midfield.

Birmingham striker Mikael Forssell (thigh) is doubtful and midfielder Muzzy Izzet (hamstring) and full-back Mario Melchiot (thigh) are unlikely to play. Goalkeeper Nico Vaesen is available again after suspension but has to wait and see if he replaces Maik Taylor who earned praise from manager Steve Bruce for his performance in the midweek Carling Cup reversal by Manchester United.

Wigan v Man City

Wigan right-back Ryan Taylor is Paul Jewell's only doubt. Taylor sustained a back injury during Tuesday's Carling Cup victory over Bolton, which led to him sitting out training yesterday. Jewell at least has centre-back Stephane Henchoz and midfielder Josip Skoko available again as both have missed the last two matches with dead leg and groin injuries respectively.

Andy Cole and Richard Dunne return to Manchester City's squad. The duo both missed the win over Birmingham through suspension but, after putting four goals past the Blues, their returning to Stuart Pearce's starting line-up is not automatic. Antoine Sibierski will be particularly confident of keeping his place after his man-of-the-match display, while Nedum Onuoha also performed well in Dunne's absence alongside Sylvain Distin at centre-half.

Courtesy of RP