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Saturday 07 February 1998 00:02 GMT
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Barnsley v Everton

Barnsley manager Danny Wilson is likely to make only one change to his side following the FA Cup fourth round replay win against Tottenham in midweek. Striker Jan-Age Fjortoft, a recent pounds 800,000 buy from Sheffield United, is likely to replace John Hendrie after being cup-tied. Fjortoft or Hendrie will play in partnership with Ashley Ward. Defender Darren Sheridan starts a two-match ban. The Tykes are looking for a fifth successive win at Oakwell and three points which could possibly lift them out of the relegation zone.

Craig Short and Tony Thomas are likely to be back in the Everton squad after injuries. John O'Kane's two-match suspension - after picking up a booking on his Everton debut at West Ham - does not start until next week. He will be able to play today, before missing the Derby and Liverpool games. Carl Tiler, who started his career at Barnsley, misses the game through suspension, and youngster Michael Ball will continue in the side. Everton's recent run of improved form has seen only one defeat in eight Premiership games.

Blackburn v Tottenham

Martin Dahlin returns to the Blackburn squad today. The pounds 1.8m summer signing from Roma has struggled with a back and calf injury all season but proved his fitness during a midweek game against Liverpool reserves. Kevin Gallacher will not play, as he is still recovering from a pelvic injury which forced him to be substituted at Liverpool last week. The Irish teenager Damien Duff is most likely to step in and partner Chris Sutton in the Blackburn attack.

Tottenham are likely to be without Andy Sinton (knee). Jurgen Klinsmann is out for three weeks with a broken jaw. Darren Anderton, Allan Nielsen, Ian Walker and Steffen Iversen remain on manager Christian Gross's injury list. Chris Armstrong and David Howells both appeared as substitutes in the midweek FA Cup defeat at Barnsley and might be ready for Premiership returns after long absences. However, Gross could keep in Stephen Clemence, sent off at Barnsley, and push David Ginola up front alongside Les Ferdinand, a successful format in his first match in charge, the 2-0 win at Everton in November.

Coventry v Sheff Wed

Marcus Hall is likely to regain his first-team place for Coventry against Sheffield Wednesday, the team he came so close to joining last month. Hall became the third Coventry player to win England selection when he was called into the B squad this week, and will replace the suspended Noel Whelan in today's game. Defenders Gary Breen and Richard Shaw have rib and groin injuries respectively but are expected to play. Coventry will be hoping to maintain the form that saw them beat Bolton 5-1 last week.

Sheffield Wednesday's top scorer Paolo Di Canio returns to the side after a one-match suspension and could partner Benito Carbone up front. Andy Booth is doubtful with a groin strain but Graham Hyde is available after a two-match ban and is likely to replace Niclas Alexandersson, out for the season with damaged knee ligaments. Krys Kotylo, a 20-year-old former Sheffield Boys player, is in the squad for the first time and could be on the bench. Wednesday are unbeaten in their last five Premiership games.

Derby v Aston Villa

Derby manager Jim Smith is without Paulo Wanchope (Costa Rica) and Deon Burton (Jamaica), both on international duty in the United States, so he might push Scottish defender Christian Dailly into his three-man attack, alongside Dean Sturridge and Francesco Baiano. Costa Rican midfielder Mauricio Solis will get a rare playing opportunity as a third non-EC player, because of Wanchope's absence. Smith has called 21-year old Rory Delap into the squad, after his recent signing from Carlisle.

Villa will be without midfielder Ian Taylor, who is suspended. Central defender Steve Staunton, who missed last Sunday's 1-0 defeat at home to Newcastle with a knee problem, is likely to replace Riccardo Scimeca, while leading scorer Dwight Yorke is free to play after Trinidad and Tobago allowed him to miss the Gold Cup tournament in the US. Villa manager Brian Little will make a late decision over the inclusion or otherwise of his transfer-listed Yugoslavian striker Savo Milosevic.

Leicester v Leeds

Leicester captain Steve Walsh is doubtful with a groin strain and Spencer Prior stands by to replace him. Greek international Theo Zagorakis, a pounds 750,000 midweek signing from PAOK Salonika, is expected to be on the bench. Leicester's 1-0 win against Manchester United last week at old Trafford not only gave the Premiership title challengers some hope, but also brought an indifferent period of Leicester Premiership form to an end. Prior to last week, they had drawn three and lost three of their previous six games.

Leeds have Robert Molenaar out with a twisted ankle and Lucas Radebe is on African Nations' Cup duty with South Africa. With Radebe away, Gunnar Halle is expected to fill the central defensive vacancy alongside David Wetherall. Midfielder Alfie Haland should have recovered from the foot injury that prevented him from playing in the reserves in midweek and might make his first start in a month. Striker Derek Lilley, who has been an almost permanent substitute this season, is definitely out after a hernia operation.

Liverpool v Southampton

Steve McManaman will maintain his Liverpool ever-present record this season by shaking off a hamstring injury to face Southampton. Roy Evans expects McManaman to be declared fit for today and for England's match with Chile on Wednesday. Liverpool have minor injury doubts over Robbie Fowler (back) and Phil Babb (hamstring), while Jamie Redknapp has already started light training after his cartilage operation and should be back in three weeks. Jason McAteer faces two months out with his broken leg, and Rob Jones will deputise.

Southampton will give an immediate debut to John Beresford, who completed his move from Newcastle yesterday and goes straight into the side. Beresford will play left-back in place of Lee Todd. Kevin Davies is struggling to recover from an ankle injury which forced him to miss last weekend's 3- 0 defeat at Arsenal. Former England midfield player Carlton Palmer and defender Francis Benali are both suspended as they serve three-match bans while Australian international Robbie Slater is ruled out by a hamstring injury.

Man Utd v Bolton

Henning Berg is likely to return to Manchester United's defence as fellow Norwegian Ronny Johnsen is out with a calf strain. Scottish midfielder Brian McClair is also poised for a rare start as England international Nicky Butt is suspended. The champions have lost three of their last four matches and have seen their lead at the top of the Premiership cut to four points. The match will be overshadowed by the commemorations to mark the 40th anniversary of the Munich air crash. Kick-off has been put back 15 minutes to allow for one minute's silence at 3.04pm, which was the time of the disaster, while wreaths will be laid in the centre circle.

Striker Dean Holdsworth is likely to return for Bolton for the first time since injuring his calf two months ago. Icelandic forward Arnar Gunnlaugsson is away on international duty, as is South African defender Mark Fish. Midfielder Alan Thompson and captain Gudni Bergsson are both available after two-match suspensions, although the latter is nursing an ankle injury and rated doubtful.

Newcastle v West Ham

Gary Speed, Newcastle's new pounds 5.5m recruit, is one of three recent signings in the squad. Speed is likely to start along with Andreas Andersson while former Stoke full-back Andy Griffin will also play some part in the match. Steve Watson is out with a broken foot, while Temuri Ketsbaia is on international duty with Georgia. With the perils of facing Stevenage in the FA Cup now firmly behind them, and with Alan Shearer's return confirmed by three goals, Newcastle will be hoping for an upturn in their fortunes.

West Ham's Paul Kitson is hoping to return from a groin injury to face his old club but may have to settle for a place on the bench, with Trevor Sinclair once more partnering John Hartson up front. Andy Impey (groin) also returns, and goalkeeper Bernard Lama is fit again. Samassi Abou is still suspended. Frank Lampard, named in the England B squad this week, pulled out of today's squad with a virus. West Ham have won just seven points from a possible 39 so far this season on their travels, but six of those came from recent games.

Tomorrow

Arsenal v Chelsea

Arsenal will give a fitness test to England striker Ian Wright tomorrow before deciding whether he is fit enough to make it at least on to the bench. The striker returned to training with Arsenal yesterday following a spell at a clinic in the South of France to clear up a hamstring injury. Lee Dixon returns to the starting line-up but Martin Keown and David Seaman are injured, and midfielder Patrick Vieira is suspended.

Italian midfielder Roberto Di Matteo returns after suspension as Chelsea attempt to keep their title challenge alive in tomorrow's game. Frank Sinclair is away on international duty with Jamaica in the United States while Andy Myers is still struggling with injury. Gianfranco Zola is suffering the worst scoring drought of his Stamford Bridge career, having gone nine goalless games since his hat-trick against Derby at the end of November, but hopes Ruud Gullit will name him in the starting line-up, despite the fact he was only on the bench for last week's win over Barnsley.

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