Football: Premiership Preview

Barnsley v Leeds

Barnsley manager Danny Wilson has a fully-fit squad to choose from for the first time this season, with the exception of long-term casualties Neil Thompson and Steve Davis. Winger Andy Liddell has recovered from an ankle injury and is fit. Wilson is likely to name an unchanged line- up for the Yorkshire derby from the side that beat Liverpool 1-0 last week, although Adie Moses could make way in midfield for Jovo Bosancic. Barnsley are looking for only their second home win of the season.

Leeds will again be without captain David Hopkin and teenage striker Harry Kewell. Midfielder Hopkin is serving the second game of a three- match ban after accruing five bookings, while Kewell is on international duty in Australia for the World Cup play-off second leg with Iran. Teenage goalkeeper Paul Robinson will again act as understudy for Nigel Martyn as Mark Beeney remains unavailable with a hamstring injury. Leeds could move, at least temporarily, into the top three for the first time this season if they win.

Bolton v Wimbledon

Chris Fairclough could make a Premiership return after a seven- month absence for Bolton today. Full-back Fairclough, who suffered knee ligament damage on the last day of last season, was Wanderers' only ever- present last season and has undergone a lengthy recovery programme since Bolton re-entered the top flight. Scott Sellars returns after a three- match suspension, but defender Gerry Taggart is still serving a ban. Dean Holdsworth faces his former club for the first time.

Wimbledon face a Bolton side that beat them in the Coca-Cola Cup earlier this season. Midfielder Robbie Earle, who lost his place in the side when he went on international duty with Jamaica, may return to the starting line-up. If he does, it is likely to be in the place of Ceri Hughes, who is due to start a three-match ban next week. Defender Alan Kimble may also start after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Efan Ekoku is hoping to have recovered from a twisted ankle. Norwegian Stole Solbakken could play.

Chelsea v Derby

Ruud Gullit's squad system will be tested today. Eddie Newton (broken toe) and Graeme Le Saux (arm) are both definitely out. Steve Clarke (calf), Mark Nicholls (groin), Andy Myers (heel) and Tore Andre Flo (foot) are all on the doubtful list, although Frenchman Bernard Lambourde is available again after suspension. Frank Leboeuf, who missed Wednesday's 2-0 win over Everton with a groin problem, should be fit, and Mark Hughes is likely to partner Gianfranco Zola up front with Gianluca Vialli reverting to the bench.

Derby captain Igor Stimac will not return for the Rams until next week after nearly two months out with an acute back injury. The 30-year-old Croatian defender was back in training this week but is not ready to replace the Dane Jacob Laursen, who will be out for several weeks with a knee injury. With Stimac's return delayed, Dean Yates will make his first Premiership appearance of the season after recovering from a knee tendon injury. Paulo Wanchope will again lead the attack that helped beat Coventry 3-1 last week.

Coventry v Leicester

Coventry's Darren Huckerby is back to full fitness for today. Former England Under-21 striker Huckerby has been struggling for weeks with ankle and thigh injuries but is now fully recovered. Willie Boland is expected to replace Paul Williams in midfield while David Burrows keeps his place despite being on the verge of a move to Sheffield Wednesday. Coventry are looking to avoid the same result as their last Midlands derby - last week's 3-1 defeat at Derby. Undefeated at home this season, they have drawn six of eight at Highfield Road.

Striker Emile Heskey is suspended for Leicester. Midfielder Garry Parker has not trained all week due to the illness of his prematurely born daughter, and is very unlikely to play. Pontus Kaamark is suffering from a mystery illness which could open up a place in the starting line-up for youngster Stuart Wilson. This Midlands derby takes place under a superstition Leicester will hope to end - Coventry midfielder Gary McAllister has never been on a losing side against the Foxes in the seven years since he left Filbert Street.

Crystal Palace v Newcastle

Andy Roberts needed stitches in his instep following Monday's 1-0 victory over Spurs at White Hart Lane, but he should play with a painkilling injection. Michele Padovano suffered a dead leg in that game but trained yesterday and is fit. Steve Coppell is likely to name an unchanged side as Palace still seek their first home win of the season (apart from the "away" win against Wimbledon on their shared ground). Neil Smith is one possible change, available again after suspension, while Jamie Smith may be recalled after a ban.

Newcastle are likely to be without centre-back Darren Peacock who injured an ankle in the Champions' League defeat at Barcelona, while captain Rob Lee might recover from a virus which kept him out of that game. Faustino Asprilla is still short of match fitness and unlikely to feature, but John Beresford and Steve Watson seem to have recovered from knocks. Newcastle will be lifted by the return of Northern Ireland winger Keith Gillespie who missed out in Barcelona, serving a one-match ban after yellow cards in Europe.

Everton v Tottenham

Everton are likely to give a debut to Norwegian Under-21 international goalkeeper Thomas Myrhe, signed this week from Viking Stavanger. Neville Southall is struggling with a back injury. Howard Kendall must also decide whether to recall promising youngsters Danny Cadamarteri and John Oster to the starting line-up. The newcomer from Sheffield United, Mitch Ward, is likely to keep a midfield place after his debut in the 2-0 midweek defeat at Chelsea, while fellow ex-Blade Carl Tiler may be given a debut today.

Spurs are likely to drop David Ginola, after the 1-0 home defeat by Crystal Palace last Monday. Christian Gross's preferred 4-4-2 system is less than ideal for Ginola's preferred free role behind the strikers. Strikers Chris Armstrong and Jose Dominguez are still injured, leaving an opening alongside Les Ferdinand for either Steffen Iversen or Rory Allen. Gary Mabbutt and Clive Wilson have been recalled to the squad, together with Ruel Fox and Colin Calderwood. Spurs have lost four Premiership matches in a row, as have Everton.

Southampton v Sheff Wed

Southampton have Egil Ostenstad available, probably as a substitute, following a six-week absence with an ankle problem. Saints manager Dave Jones has a fully fit squad to choose from, but new signing Bjorn Johansen will not arrive from Norway until next week. The Saints are hoping to recover from two defeats, against Newcastle and Chelsea in the Premiership and Coca-Cola Cup respectively. Jones will probably start with David Hirst and Kevin Davies up front.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Ron Atkinson is likely to name an unchanged line-up from the side that won last weekend 2-0 over Arsenal. A swap deal involving Coventry's David Burrows and Welsh international Mark Pembridge failed to beat yesterday's noon deadline, but although Pembridge is still available, Atkinson has drafted Lee Briscoe into the squad. He could turn to the 22-year-old instead if he chooses to omit Pembridge. Atkinson is reunited with two former Owls who have played under his management: Carlton Palmer and David Hirst.

West Ham v Aston Villa

West Ham are not yet able to recall former Newcastle striker Paul Kitson following surgery to repair a torn groin muscle, but he is nearly fit. Abou Samassi or Paulo Alves will continue to deputise. Harry Redknapp must decide whether to keep faith with fit-again goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko who returned from injury at Leeds on Sunday, as a surprise replacement for in-form Canadian Craig Forrest, but was blamed for two late goals which produced West Ham's defeat. Rio Ferdinand will be recalled after a calf strain.

Aston Villa's Ian Taylor reverts be being a spectator after his role in the 2-1 Uefa Cup defeat at Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday, serving a three- match ban. In the absence of Taylor, manager Brian Little is likely to move versatile Portuguese international Fernando Nelson back into midfield with Gary Charles slotting in at full-back. Little will also check on the fitness of Yugoslav international midfielder Sasa Curcic who has been out of the squad for the last two games because of a virus. He could win a place on the bench.

Arsenal v Liverpool

Dennis Bergkamp and Emmanuel Petit both return from suspensions for Arsenal but Ray Parlour is out with a knee injury. Patrick Vieira is injured and Steve Bould is suspended. Arsene Wenger is now likely to revert to a 4-4-2 line-up with Martin Keown and Tony Adams in defence and Gilles Grimandi left out. Options to replace Parlour are Stephen Hughes or Luis Boa Morte, which, in either case, would mean switching winger Marc Overmars from left to right.

Patrik Berger could lose his place in the tomorrow's Liverpool side. Manager Roy Evans is likely to include a more defensive midfield man to play alongside Jamie Redknapp after the Berger filled the role in the 1-0 home defeat by Barnsley last week in place of Paul Ince. Ince and Robbie Fowler are still both suspended, so the inclusion of either Danny Murphy, Jamie Carragher or Micky Thomas is a possibility. Rob Jones is still unfit. Mark Wright, Phil Babb, Carragher, Thomas, Steve Harkness and Neil Ruddock all made successful comebacks from injury in the reserves on Thursday.

Man Utd v Blackburn

Manchester United face the only team to have denied them the Premiership title since its inception with one key player absent, as Paul Scholes begins a three-match suspension. Ronny Johnsen is likely to slot into midfield, with Henning Berg replacing him in the heart of the defence. Philip Neville complained of double vision after the victory over 3-0 Champions' League win over Kosice on Thursday and is the only injury doubt, although Alex Ferguson said he would be fit to play.

Blackburn will again be without Colin Hendry and Martin Dahlin for tomorrow's top-of-the-table encounter. The international duo are still out with long- term injuries but there was good news for manager Roy Hodgson when both Kevin Gallacher and Tore Pedersen were both back in training and available for selection yesterday. Chris Sutton's new contract with Blackburn Rovers will keep him at the club for five more years and he will be hoping to make his first repayment on the investment by adding to his season's 11 goals.