The midfielder was rested for yesterday's Europa League goalless draw in Utrecht, but there is a problem at left-back as Paul Konchesky (hamstring) and Fabio Aurelio (Achilles) are still injured while usual stand-in Daniel Agger has a groin problem and Martin Kelly, who filled in against Utrecht but did not look particularly comfortable, sustained a knee problem in Holland.

Summer signing Danny Wilson, another central defender, was tried there in the Carling Cup defeat to Northampton but also struggled. Jamie Carragher could possibly reprise a role he has not played for several years, with Sotirios Kyrgiakos coming into the middle of defence. However, Hodgson remains hopeful Kelly will recover in time.

Provisional squad: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Kelly, Meireles, Gerrard, Poulsen, Cole, Kuyt, Torres, Jones, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Pacheco, Ngog, Lucas, Rodriguez, Jovanovic.