Sunday's matches
West Ham manager Alan Pardew has injury concerns in defence. Tyrone Mears and Anton Ferdinand both missed Thursday's UEFA Cup defeat to Palermo with calf injuries. With John Pantsil (knee ligament) a long-term concern, American Jonathan Spector is set to continue at right-back. Bobby Zamora and Yossi Benayoun are pressing for recalls after starting on the bench in Sicily, where Pardew went with a 4-3-3 formation. Skipper Graeme Murty is Reading's only injury worry. The Scotland defender is struggling with a hamstring problem so Ulises de la Cruz stands by for his league debut for the Royals. Striker Dave Kitson (knee) is still a month from a return and back-up defender Peter Mate may need surgery on his knee injury, picked up in a reserve match earlier in the week.
Midfielder Robbie Savage should be fit. He was taken off as a precaution in Thursday's 2-0 UEFA Cup first-round victory over Salzburg with a tightness in his hamstring, but boss Mark Hughes is confident his fellow Welshman will play. Striker Jason Roberts, signed from Wigan over the summer, has a slight chance of being on the bench following a lengthy lay-off with a groin injury, but midfielder Steven Reid continues to be plagued by a back problem and is out. Winger Lee McCulloch is back in contention after missing the Latics' last four matches with a strain at the bottom of his right thigh, but now looks set for a return, albeit more than likely with a place on the bench. The only two players unavailable for the Lancashire derby are long-term casualties Ryan Taylor and Steve McMillan. | Manchester United | v | Newcastle United |
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Defender Mikael Silvestre has been ruled out for six weeks with a broken metatarsal. He becomes the latest member of the United squad to suffer such a setback, following on from the likes of Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney. It means the former Inter Milan star will not be available again until mid-November, although at least manager Sir Alex Ferguson has ready-made alternatives for the left-back role in Gabriel Heinze and Patrice Evra. With Ryan Giggs still a fortnight away from recovery after a recent hamstring injury, Ferguson will stick with the same squad that defeated Benfica on Tuesday when his side entertain Newcastle on Sunday. Titus Bramble was sent off in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Everton, while Celestine Babayaro serves the second game of a three-match ban after being convicted on video evidence of lashing out at Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt. On-loan United striker Giuseppe Rossi is ineligible, while Nolberto Solano and Kieron Dyer (both hamstring) are still out, but goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek could be included after signing a short-term deal - providing his international clearance comes through. | Tottenham Hotspur | v | Portsmouth |
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England defender Ledley King and striker Jermain Defoe face late fitness tests. Defoe is struggling to shake off an ankle problem but coach Martin Jol is hopeful he will be fit along with King who is suffering from an inflammation of the knee. Veteran midfielder Edgar Davids is likely to remain sidelined with an ankle injury, while striker Dimitar Berbatov (groin) and full-back Paul Stalteri (hamstring) are doubtful. Aaron Lennon (knee) and Steed Malbranque (groin) miss out along with Anthony Gardner (hip/back). Andy Cole could make his Premiership debut for Pompey but manager Harry Redknapp is more likely to hand a first start of the season to Lomana LuaLua. Redknapp, without new on-loan Cameroon winger Roudolphe Douala after he tore a hamstring, confirmed Cole will be in his 16-man party for the White Hart Lane clash following Pompey's first defeat of the season against Bolton on Monday. LuaLua is pressing for a place after not starting in the league since last April when he damaged an ankle and looks set to swap roles with top scorer Nwankwo Kanu. |
