Saturday, September 10

Barnsley (16) v Leicester (10)

Barnsley have a troubling list of injuries. Midfielder Goran Lovre sustained a knee injury in training and will be sidelined for a month, while strikers Craig Davies (groin) and Reuben Noble-Lazarus (ankle) along with defender Miles Addison (ankle) are not ready to return. Forward Ricardo Vaz Te (thigh) is unlikely to be involved, while midfielder Nathan Doyle (groin) may have a chance of playing some part.

Former Everton striker Jermaine Beckford is set for his Leicester debut as David Nugent is set to miss another three weeks with a hamstring injury. Defender Michael Ball is a doubt after sustaining a calf injury in training but Michael Johnson has resumed full training after a niggle and the midfielder could be in contention.

Last season: Leicester 4 Barnsley 1, Barnsley 0 Leicester 2

Last five league matches: Barnsley D L L W D; Leicester W L L D W

Top scorers: Matty Done & Stephen Foster (Barnsley) 1; Jeffery Schlupp (Leicester) 4

Match odds: H 5-2 A 11-10 D 12-5

Referee: David Webb (County Durham)

Blackpool (8) v Ipswich (14)

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway could be without winger Elliot Grandin, who has a foot injury, but goalkeeper Matt Gilks and defenders Stephen Crainey and Craig Cathcart are fit after international duty. Holloway could hand debuts to two new signings, striker Daniel Bogdanovic and defender James Hurst.

Ibrahima Sonko is doubtful for Ipswich due to a hamstring strain but Ivar Ingimarsson and Lee Bowyer come back into contention after thigh and hamstring injuries respectively. Defender Tommy Smith returns from his one-match ban but midfielder Lee Martin serves the second game of his three-match suspension. Midfielder Jimmy Bullard could start after impressing off the bench against Leeds.

Last: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Blackpool W W L D D; Ipswich W L L L W

Top scorers: Kevin Phillips (Blackpool) 4; Keith Andrews (Ipswich) 3

Match odds: H 5-6 A 3-1 D 14-5

Referee: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear)

Bristol City (17) v Brighton (1)

Goalkeeper Dean Gerken is still struggling to get over groin and back injury problems and is a doubtful starter for Bristol City. Liam Fontaine and Jamie McAllister remain long-term casualties, both with ankle injuries, but otherwise manager Keith Millen has the majority of his squad available for selection.

Leaders Brighton have received positive fitness news, with striker Craig Mackail-Smith fit after a back injury which forced him out of the Scotland squad. Winger Will Buckley (hamstring) and full-back Romain Vincelot (shoulder) are over their injuries and return to the squad. Forward Will Hoskins (hip) could be involved, as could former Spain winger Vicente after his surprise move, but defenders Tommy Elphick (Achilles) and Adam El-Abd (foot) miss out.

Last season: No Corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Bristol City L L W D D; Brighton W W W D W

Top scorers: Nicky Maynard (Bristol City) 3; Ashley Barnes (Brighton) 4

Match odds: H 19-10 A 11-8 D 12-5

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire)

Burnley (15) v Middlesbrough (4)

Burnley boss Eddie Howe will assess the fitness of defender David Edgar who reported back from Canada duty on Thursday morning. Winger Keith Treacy is also back at Turf Moor after being with the Republic of Ireland squad for their European Championship qualifiers. Martin Paterson (thigh), Michael Duff (knee) and Danny Ings (knee) are sidelined but midfielder Marvin Bartley is available after a three-match ban.

Middlesbrough striker Scott McDonald could return from the hamstring injury he sustained in the win against Birmingham on August 21. Kevin Thomson may also push for selection after playing for the reserves on Tuesday, his first action of the season after leg and ankle surgery. Utility man Rhys Williams will be assessed after gruelling travel with the Australia national team. Midfielder Barry Robson has had a minor knock while goalkeeper Jason Steele continues his recovery from a wrist fracture.

Last season: Burnley 3 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 2 Burnley 1

Last five league matches: Burnley D D L D W; Middlesbrough D W W W D

Top scorers: Charlie Austin & Jay Rodriguez (Burnley) 5; Marvin Emnes (Middlesbrough) 7

Match odds: H 29-20 A 9-5 D 12-5

Referee: Mark Haywood (W Yorkshire)

Cardiff (7) v Doncaster (24)

Cardiff have a clean bill of health despite having had nine players away on international duty. Rob Earnshaw and Darcy Blake featured for Wales against England at Wembley and Don Cowie lined up for Scotland against Lithuania. But the trio, along with Kenny Miller, David Marshall, Aron Gunnarsson, Dekel Keinan, Filip Kiss and Joe Mason, all came through unscathed and are available for the weekend clash.

Doncaster boss Sean O'Driscoll is set to be boosted by the return from injury of James O'Connor, Shelton Martis and Brian Stock. However James Chambers, Martin Woods, Adam Lockwood, Billy Sharp and Ryan Mason remain sidelined with various physical problems. On-loan Chelsea youngster Milan Lalkovic has been away with Slovakia's Under-21 squad but has returned to boost O'Driscoll's squad.

Last season: Doncaster 1 Cardiff 3, Cardiff 4 Doncaster 0

Last five league matches: Cardiff W W L D D; Doncaster L L L L D

Top scorers: Craig Conway (Cardiff) 3; James Hayter (Doncaster) 2

Match odds: H 6-10 A 9-2 D 3-1

Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire)

Coventry (23) v Derby (3)

Striker Cody McDonald is set to make his debut for Coventry after arriving from Norwich on transfer deadline day. Winger Gary McSheffrey and striker Clive Platt could also feature, after a hamstring injury and minor knock respectively. Midfielder David Bell is back in training following a back injury, while striker Freddy Eastwood (hamstring) and midfielder Gary Deegan (ankle and thigh) were sent on a fitness camp this week to bolster their fitness.

Derby strikers Steve Davies and Jamie Ward are set to be available to boss Nigel Clough. Davies has had a back problem, and Ward a hamstring injury. Kevin Kilbane may also be involved, despite playing no part in the Republic of Ireland's matches against Slovakia and Russia due to a back strain. Centre-back Russell Anderson is expected back after a groin injury. Nathan Tyson (groin) may have to wait for his first appearance of the season.

Last season: Derby 2 Coventry 2, Coventry 2 Derby 1

Last five league matches: Coventry L L L D D; Derby W W W W L

Top scorers: Lukas Jutkiewicz (Coventry) 2; Steve Davies (Derby) 3

Match odds: H 6-4 A 15-8 D 11-5

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Leeds (19) v Crystal Palace (6)

Leeds could hand a debut to Finnish striker Mikael Forssell after he joined the club this week, but defender Aidy White misses out through suspension. Strikers Luciano Becchio (hamstring) and Billy Paynter (shin), midfielder Michael Brown (calf) and defenders Alex Bruce and Leigh Bromby were back in full training this week, so may be involved. Winger Ramon Nunez is a contender to benefit from Max Gradel's departure to St Etienne by returning to the starting line-up.

Centre-back Anthony Gardner and striker Antonio Pedroza could be added to Crystal Palace's squad. Gardner has been building up his fitness since signing three weeks ago, while Pedroza has received international clearance after his move from Mexican club Jaguares. Ruled out are full-back Nathaniel Clyne (foot), midfielders Kagisho Dikgacoi (hamstring) and Alex Marrow (ankle) and striker Steffen Iversen (hamstring).

Last season: Crystal Palace 1 Leeds 0, Leeds 2 Crystal Palace 1

Last five league matches: Leeds L L W D L; Crystal Palace L W W W D

Top scorers: Ramon Nunez (Leeds) 5; Sean Scannell & Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) 2

Match odds: H 5-6 A 16-5 D 13-5

Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire)

Peterborough (9) v Hull (13)

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson intends to keep faith with goalkeeper Paul Jones despite Joe Lewis returning from a knee injury in Monday's friendly against St Albans. Recent signings Emile Sinclair, Daniel Kearns, Ben Gordon and Josh Thompson also faced St Albans and come into contention for the visit of Hull. Striker Nicky Ajose (hamstring) could have a role to play, while defender Gabby Zakuani is fit again after being sidelined by a toe problem.

Loan signing Martyn Waghorn is hoping to make his Hull debut after joining from Leicester. Aaron Mclean partnered Matty Fryatt in attack against Reading in their last match, but striker Waghorn could come in. Hull remain without defender Paul McShane (calf) and winger Cameron Stewart (knee ligaments).

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Peterborough W L D W L; Hull L W L L W

Top scorers: Lee Tomlin & Emile Sinclair (Peterborough) 4; Matt Fryatt & Robbie Brady (Hull) 1

Match odds: H 5-4 A 19-10 D 11-4

Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Tyne & Wear)

Reading (20) v Watford (22)

Kaspars Gorkss, Joseph Mills and Adam Le Fondre are in line for their Reading home debuts. Internationals Hal Robson-Kanu, Simon Church, Adam Federici and Bongali Khumano came through duty for their countries unscathed and are available. Manager Brian McDermott has no injury worries ahead of the resumption of the Championship campaign.

Watford boss Sean Dyche has attacking options. Joe Garner joined from Nottingham Forest on transfer deadline day, while Chris Iwelumo is fit after a hip and thigh problem and England Under-21 striker Marvin Sordell has shown good form. Andreas Weimann returned to Watford on loan from Aston Villa to partner Sordell in the 2-2 draw with Birmingham last time out. Including Troy Deeney, Dyche has five strikers to choose from. Stephen McGinn (knee) misses out.

Last season: Reading 1 Watford 1, Watford 1 Reading 1

Last five league matches: Reading D W L L L; Watford D L L D D

Top scorers: Adam Le Fondre (Reading) 4; Marvin Sordell (Watford) 2

Match odds: H 3-4 A 7-2 D 11-4

Referee: James Linington (Isle of Wight)

Southampton (2) v Nottingham Forest (18)

Richard Chaplow and Steve de Ridder should return to the Southampton squad - Chaplow after a three-man ban and tendinitis and De Ridder after a foot injury. Dutch defender Jos Hooiveld, on loan from Celtic, could be involved. Defender Dan Seaborne is still in hospital following an assault outside a nightclub last week.

French midfielder Guy Moussi is pushing for a place in the Nottingham Forest team after recovering from a calf injury. Manager Steve McClaren also hopes to be able to call upon Paul Anderson following his calf problem. Goalkeeper Lee Camp and right-back Chris Gunter have returned unscathed from international duty with Northern Ireland and Wales respectively.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Southampton W W W W L; Nottingham Forest D L W D L

Top scorers: David Connolly & Richard Lambert (Southampton) 4; Robbie Findley & Lewis McGugan (Nottingham Forest) 3

Match odds: H 10-11 A 3-1 D 5-2

Referee: Iain Williamson (Berkshire)

West Ham (5) v Portsmouth (12)

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce could hand debuts to as many as five players during the match, with Guy Demel, Papa Bouba Diop, David Bentley, Henri Lansbury and Sam Baldock having joined since the team's 4-1 win at Nottingham Forest. Abdoulaye Faye (groin) is doubtful, Gary O'Neil and Jordan Brown (both ankle) are still injured but Callum McNaughton is available after a ban.

Portsmouth midfielder Hayden Mullins will be fit to travel to his former club, after recovering from a groin injury. Defender Tal Ben Haim has had a sore back but is also expected to be available. Striker Benjani Mwaruwari is pushing for his first start since rejoining the club last month and fellow striker Marko Futacs could be involved for the first time following his recent switch from Werder Bremen.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: West Ham L W W D W; Portsmouth D L W D D

Top scorers: Sam Baldock (West Ham) 6; Luke Varney, David Norris, Dave Kitson & Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth) 1

Match odds: H 13-20 A 4-1 D 3-1

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)

Sunday, September 11

Birmingham (21) v Millwall (11)

Striker Marlon King is set for his Birmingham debut after recovering from a knee injury. Fellow forward Nikola Zigic (groin) is close to making his return. Defender Pablo Ibanez and midfielder Wade Elliott arrived on transfer deadline day and could play, as could on-loan midfielder Guirane N'Daw, who has received international clearance. Midfielder Jordon Mutch is out on a long-term basis with a broken ankle.

Millwall bring in new signings Liam Feeney, a winger acquired from Bournemouth, and Jay Simpson, the former Arsenal striker signed on loan from Hull. Forward Dany N'Guessan needs a fitness test on a hamstring injury, as does midfielder Liam Trotter. Midfielder Therry Racon (ankle) and striker Shaun Batt (knee) are out, but winger Chris Hackett could be on the bench after a back spasm kept him out of the goalless draw with Barnsley.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Birmingham L L W L D; Millwall D W D L D

Top scorers: Adam Rooney & Chris Wood (Birmingham) 2; Darius Henderson & Liam Trotter (Millwall) 2

Match odds: H 11-8 A 2-1 D 9-4

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)