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Football: Premiership preview

Nick Harris
Friday 26 September 1997 18:02 EDT
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Aston Villa v Sheff Wed

Yorke 3 Leading scorer Carbone 5 Last season: 0-1

Dwight Yorke is fit after a groin injury as Aston Villa look to recover from Monday's 3-0 defeat at Liverpool. Brian Little will choose between an attacking policy or a more defensive approach, with an attacking formation likely to see Yugoslav international midfielder Sasa Curcic step up from the bench into the starting line-up in place of Simon Grayson. Ian Taylor is set to retain his midfield place after apologising to Little for gesturing to the bench at Anfield when replaced by Julian Joachim.

Kevin Pressman may return after his groin injury to take over from Matt Clarke in the Sheffield goal, after Clarke was criticised by David Pleat for lack of confidence in their 5-2 midweek defeat at Derby. Otherwise Bruce Grobbelaar could make his debut for the club. Jim Magilton is likely to play with the aid of a pain-killing injection for his sore ribs, but Jon Newsome is likely to be miss the game with a hamstring injury. Peter Atherton has a chance of recovering from a knee problem. Andy Booth and Graham Hyde are both still out.

Barnsley v Leicester

Redfearn 4 Leading scorer Walsh 3 Last season: No fixture

South African international Eric Tinkler is doubtful for Barnsley, after badly bruising a shin in the 4-1 midweek defeat at Wimbledon during which he scored the Tykes' only goal. He is one of six men who could be out of action. Nicky Eaden, Peter Shirtliff, Jovo Bosancic (all with thigh injuries), John Hendrie (hamstring), and Ashley Ward (knee) have all been receiving treatment during the week and all are doubtful for today.

Leicester manager Martin O'Neill will have to decide if he is going to persist with his makeshift defence. Captain and centre-back Steve Walsh missed the midweek 1-1 draw against Blackburn with a hamstring injury and is still out. O'Neill slotted striker Ian Marshall into the back line in midweek, with Graham Fenton making with his first start up front. Garry Parker is doubtful with a stomach bug but Muzzy Izzet has shaken off an ankle injury. Steve Claridge is not expected to play tomorrow (or again at all for Leicester) after O'Neill made it clear that the striker does not figure in his long-term plans.

Chelsea v Newcastle

Vialli 4 Leading scorer Asprilla 6 Last season: 1-1

Frank Sinclair returns from suspension for Chelsea while Steve Clarke hopes to recover from a calf injury to be in contention. Manager Ruud Gullit also has Italian international midfielder Roberto Di Matteo available again after he missed Wednesday's draw at Manchester United. Michael Duberry's ankle injury is less serious than first feared although he is still ruled out. Gullit may elect to play Frenchman Bernard Lambourde, impressive on his debut at Old Trafford in midfield, at the back.

Newcastle's Rob Lee pulled a thigh muscle after scoring the late winner against Everton on Wednesday and did not train yesterday, but had treatment and will definitely travel to London. Stuart Pearce (hamstring) is out. Kenny Dalglish is expected to switch from a flat back four to three centre- backs, which would mean John Beresford coming off the bench. Goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek was sent home unwell from training yesterday, but Faustino Asprilla, who has also been sick since Wednesday, is expected to recover.

Crystal Palace v Bolton

Lombardo 3 Leading scorer Blake 3 Last season: 1-1

Crystal Palace manager Steve Coppell, who lost coach Ray Wilkins to Fulham on Thursday, is still in search of his first home point of the season. Coppell will make late fitness checks on his squad before naming his team. Paul Warhurst (flu) is reported to be doing well, while Bruce Dyer (ankle) is now fully fit. Neil Emblen (hamstring) is ruled out. Italian midfielder Attilio Lombardo aggravated a thigh injury in the 1-1 draw with Coventry in midweek but may be passed fit. Simon Rodger is definitely ruled out through injury.

Bolton, who drew at home 1-1 to Tottenham on Tuesday, are likely to be without Scottish international John McGinlay, struggling both with Achilles injury and a bout of flu.

Nathan Blake, sent off against Manchester United last weekend, is likely to partner Peter Beardsley in attack. Ex-Middlesbrough full-back Neil Cox, a pounds 1.5million summer signing, is making good progress from a recurring hamstring strain but won't be fit for today.

Derby v Southampton

Baiano 3 Leading scorer Davies 4 Last season: 1-1

Derby are likely to start with an unchanged line-up from their 5-2 midweek win over Sheffield Wednesday which will mean no places for Dean Sturridge and Aljoas Asanovic. Deon Burton, the Jamaican striker, will play up front alongside Paulo Wanchope, with Italian striker Francesco Baiano tucked in behind the two. All three scored at Hillsborough. Wanchope, the 6ft 4in Costa Rican international, demonstrated his full recovery from the knee injury which had kept him out of the team recently with his goal on Wednesday, his first in the Premiership since April.

Carlton Palmer should make his Southampton debut following his pounds 1m move from Leeds. A missed deadline meant he was unable to play against his old club as they beat Saints 2-0 on Wednesday. The former England international may play at the back rather than in midfield after Ken Monkou damaged his groin in that match. Matt Le Tissier should return after missing Wednesday's game with a pulled hamstring, while Norwegian international Egil Ostenstad (ankle) will have a late fitness test.

Everton v Arsenal

Speed 3 Leading scorer Bergkamp 8 Last season: 0-2

Former England striker Nicky Barmby will not be in Everton's side after sustaining a back injury in the 1-0 defeat at Newcastle in midweek. Craig Short and Gareth Farrelly are also injured while Andy Hinchcliffe is serving a one-match suspension. Everton will make late tests on Duncan Ferguson (calf), Graham Stuart (foot) and Danny Williamson (groin). Richard Dunne, Michael Ball, Jon O'Connor, Claus Thomsen and Tony Thomas are all added to the squad.

Arsenal full-back Lee Dixon will almost certainly miss the game with a calf injury which forced him off after only 15 minutes of the 4-0 win over West Ham last Wednesday. Although manager Arsene Wenger says it "is not too serious" he wants Dixon fully fit for Tuesday's Uefa Cup match with PAOK Salonika at Highbury. Midfielder Ray Parlour is expected to recover from a hamstring strain, although Luis Boa Morte and David Platt will be ready to stand in should he not be match fit. Nigel Winterburn plays after X-rays to his jaw showed no damage from a knock in midweek.

Leeds v Man Utd

Wallace 5 Leading scorer Scholes, Beckham Last season: 0-4 Keane, Cole 2

Leeds will give South African international Lucas Radebe a late fitness test on his calf injury before deciding whether he will play.

Captain David Hopkin plays despite the after effects of a virus that cost him his place against Leicester last Saturday and forced his substitution towards the end of the 2-0 win at Southampton.

Australian international Harry Kewell is expected to start alongside Rod Wallace again, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink again on the bench. Lee Sharpe is still out with a long-term knee ligament injury.

Manchester United will be close to fielding a full-strength side with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ryan Giggs both in contention for starting places. Solskjaer came on and scored a late equaliser in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Chelsea and is likely to make his first start of the season. Giggs was another late substitute on Wednesday, and has now recovered from the hamstring pull that kept him out of that starting line-up. Ronny Johnsen (thigh) and Teddy Sheringham (ribs) are both fit.

Tottenham v Wimbledon

Ferdinand 3 Leading scorer Cort 4 Last season: 1-0

Gerry Francis is hopeful that he will be able to play his striking combination of Les Ferdinand and Chris Armstrong together for the first time today. Armstrong is set to start his first game of the season after two substitute appearances in the League (including the second half of Tuesday's game with Bolton in which he scored), while pounds 6m summer signing Ferdinand is hoping to return after recovering from a damaged stomach muscle.

Michael Hughes is likely to make his Wimbledon debut following his pounds 1.6m move from West Ham. The Dons will be looking to capitalise on the performance that saw them beat Barnsley 4-1 in midweek. Marcus Gayle, who was a substitute on Tuesday after collapsing with undiagnosed chest pains and breathing problems last Saturday, may replace Jason Euell up front, but Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear will not decide until the last minute. Cort and Ekoku are likely to retain their starting places up front. Midfielder Neil Ardley is definitely out with a knee strain.

West Ham v Liverpool

Hartson 4 Leading scorer Owen, Riedle Last season: 1-2 McManaman 2

Andy Impey should make his debut for West Ham following the eventual completion of his pounds 1.2m transfer from QPR. West Ham, beaten 4-0 in midweek at Arsenal, have also taken former Tranmere striker Ian Moore from Nottingham Forest on a month's loan. The 21-year-old is expected to be on the bench tomorrow. Rio Ferdinand is expected to play despite coming off against Arsenal, and Eyal Berkovitch is expected to play having taken shrugged off a midweek knock.

Paul Ince and Jason McAteer are expected to be fit for Liverpool, having recovered from thigh and cheekbone injuries respectively. Ince is expected to start, as captain, while McAteer may start on the bench following the 3-0 midweek victory over Aston Villa. Jamie Carragher, 19, and Danny Murphy, 20, made their first starts of the season against Villa and may also be in contention for places.

Karlheinz Riedle is likely to be on the bench, having only just recovered from flu. Mark Wright, Rob Jones, Steve Harkness, Dominic Matteo, Jamie Redknapp and Oyvind Leonhardsen are all injured.

Tomorrow

Blackburn v Coventry

Sutton 9 Leading scorer Dublin 4 Last season: 4-0

Stuart Ripley will not be fit to play for Blackburn (after a hamstring strain) until next Saturday at the earliest, which is also too late for an England call-up for the October date with Italy in Rome. Stephane Henchoz went off at Leicester with a recurrence of his back problem but is fit again. Chris Sutton did not train yesterday to rest his troublesome groin, and will play, but defender Marlon Broomes is still out with his knee ligament injury. Wales defender Chris Coleman came through his first match in nearly a year for the reserves on Wednesday and could be in contention for a place.

Gary Breen will return in the heart of Coventry's defence for tomorrow's match. Breen made four starts at right-back this season, but was dropped when Coventry signed Swedish international Roland Nilsson. Breen gets his chance in his true position because Paul Williams starts a three-match suspension.

Manager Gordon Strachan will delay his team selection until the last moment to check on the fitness of Dion Dublin, John Salako, Darren Huckerby and Noel Whelan.

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