Saturday, November 21

Barnsley (15) v Cardiff (3)

Barnsley midfielder Hugo Colace is doubtful with a groin injury and could face a late fitness test but skipper Stephen Foster returns from suspension. Strikers Iain Hume and Daniel Bogdanovic, midfielder Emil Hallfredsson and winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce have all been on international duty and manager Mark Robins is hoping they report back fit, with Iceland international Hallfredsson an ideal replacement should Colace not make it.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones faces an anxious wait over Peter Whittingham's fitness after a knee injury, though striker Michael Chopra returns from a one-match suspension. Adam Matthews (knee) will be assessed and Stephen McPhail (thigh) and Kelvin Etuhu (ankle ligaments) are not yet fit, but Kevin McNaughton could feature - most likely as a substitute - after finally recovering from ankle and calf problems.

Last season: Cardiff 3 Barnsley 1, Barnsley 0 Cardiff 1

Last five league matches: Barnsley W L L W D; Cardiff D W W D L

Top scorers (all competitions): Daniel Bogdanovic (Barnsley) 6; Michael Chopra & Peter Whittingham (Cardiff) 12

Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire).

Coventry (17) v Crystal Palace (13)

Coventry goalkeeper Keiren Westwood is rated as 50/50 to return after missing two games with a back injury. Dimi Konstantopoulos remains on standby to deputise. Central defender Ben Turner (knee) and midfielder Isaac Osbourne (ankle) are certain to miss out while captain Stephen Wright is an injury doubt. Richard Wood, on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, could make his debut and Marcus Hall is back in training after the death of his father, but Jordan Clarke serves a one-match ban.

Paddy McCarthy (shoulder) looks set to miss out for Palace, so Claude Davis and Jose Fonte will continue at the back. Young winger Sean Scannell suffered a hamstring injury playing for the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side last weekend and will also be missing. Striker Calvin Andrew is stepping up his return from a cruciate injury but is some way from full fitness, while midfielder Kieran Djilali has joined Chesterfield on a month's loan.

Last season: Crystal Palace 1 Coventry 1, Coventry 0 Crystal Palace 2

Last five league matches: Coventry L L D L L; Crystal Palace L D D D W

Top scorers (all competitions): Leon Best (Coventry) 7; Darren Ambrose (Crystal Palace) 10

Referee: Jarnail Singh (Middlesex).

Doncaster (20) v QPR (4)

Doncaster will be without suspended skipper Martin Woods, while Dean Shiels (ankle) and Jason Shackell (groin) face late fitness tests. But Rovers could be boosted by the return of defenders Adam Lockwood (foot) and Byron Webster (elbow), who have both been out since the beginning of last month. Left-back Gareth Roberts is also expected to be fit after being forced off in the second half at Plymouth with a bruised ankle.

New loan signings Steven Reid and Tommy Williams have been added to the QPR squad. Boss Jim Magilton swooped for Blackburn midfielder Reid after serious knee injuries accounted for Martin Rowlands and Gavin Mahon, while Peterborough's Williams will provide competition for Gary Borrowdale at left-back. Defender Damion Stewart returns after an ankle injury but centre-half Fitz Hall (back) is out. Strikers Rowan Vine (hernia) and Angelo Balanta (groin) are back in light training while Alessandro Pellicori and Lee Cook (both knee) are out.

Last season: Doncaster 2 QPR 0, QPR 2 Doncaster 0

Last five league matches: Doncaster L W L D L; QPR W W L D W

Top scorers (all competitions): Billy Sharp (Doncaster) 5; Jay Simpson (QPR) 7

Referee: A Bates (Staffordshire).

Ipswich (23) v Sheff Wed (16)

Ipswich manager Roy Keane has been boosted by the return of defenders Tommy Smith (hand) and Gareth McAuley (thigh). Midfielders Luciano Civelli and David Norris are both making good progress in their recovery from serious knee injuries but are not fit enough to return.

Wednesday midfielder Tommy Miller is doubtful with a hamstring injury and could be replaced by Sean McAllister. Michael Gray could return from a hamstring strain and winger Etienne Esajas is pushing for a recall to the starting line-up following a knee injury. But the Owls will be without striker Akpo Sodje, who has joined Charlton on loan.

Last season: Ipswich 1 Sheff Wed 1, Sheff Wed 0 Ipswich 0

Last five league matches: Ipswich D D D W D; Sheff Wed W L L D L

Top scorers (all competitions): Jonathan Walters (Ipswich) 4; Marcus Tudgay (Sheff Wed) 6

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex).

Leicester (6) v Plymouth (21)

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson will have Andy King (arm) back but fellow midfielder Matt Oakley will definitely miss the match after picking up a one-match ban for collecting five yellow cards. Nicky Adams, Paul Gallagher, Dany N'Guessan and Lloyd Dyer will all be vying for the two spots alongside King and Richie Wellens in midfield. Aleksandar Tunchev and Stephen Clemence are still ruled out with long-term injuries.

Plymouth are boosted by the return of skipper and central midfielder Carl Fletcher from a one-match suspension. Argyle boss Paul Sturrock waits on the fitness of wingers Alan Judge (knee) and Craig Noone (foot). On-loan Manchester United right-back David Gray (hip) is another doubt.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Leicester D W W W L; Plymouth L L D W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Matt Fryatt (Leicester) 10; Jamie Mackie (Plymouth) 4

Referee: Danny McDermid (Middlesex).

Middlesbrough (10) v Nottm Forest (8)

Middlesbrough will hand a debut to Dave Kitson after he joined on loan from Stoke and he could join former Reading team-mate Leroy Lita in attack. Austria defender Emanuel Pogatetz could start, wearing a protective face mask following a broken cheekbone. Isaiah Osbourne, on loan from Aston Villa, will make his home debut while Didier Digard should return to the squad after proving his fitness. Marvin Emnes could miss out with a cold.

Forest manager Billy Davies may be able to welcome back striker Dexter Blackstock, who has missed the last three matches with a knee injury. Wales international Chris Gunter will be available after overcoming a virus which ruled him out of last weekend's clash with Scotland. Defender James Perch is pushing for a place in the squad after six months on the sidelines with a stress fracture of his shin.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Middlesbrough L W D L L; Nottm Forest W W D D D

Top scorers (all competitions): Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough) 9; Dexter Blackstock (Nottm Forest) 6

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Reading (22) v Blackpool (5)

Reading will be without striker Shane Long, who is nursing an ankle injury which forced him to miss the Republic of Ireland's World Cup drama in Paris. That means Simon Church - fresh from scoring his first goal for Wales against Scotland last weekend - will partner Grzegorz Rasiak in attack. Noel Hunt could be out for the rest of the season after knee surgery and full-backs Chris Armstrong (knee) and Julian Kelly (shoulder) are also sidelined.

Blackpool will be without Algeria midfielder Hameur Bouazza, who will remain with the national team as they meet president Abdelaziz Bouteflika to celebrate their World Cup qualification. Midfielder Ishmel Demontagnac will serve the final game of a three-match suspension and striker Stephen McPhee (knee) and defender Danny Coid (hairline fracture of the tibia) remain long-term absentees.

Last season: Blackpool 2 Reading 2, Reading 1 Blackpool 0

Last five league matches: Reading L L L W D; Blackpool W W D D W

Top scorers (all competitions): Simon Church & Grzegorz Rasiak (Reading) 3; Charlie Adam & Ben Burgess (Blackpool) 6

Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire).

Sheff Utd (14) v Peterborough (24)

Sheffield United skipper Chris Morgan will return from suspension but striker Darius Henderson is banned under the totting-up procedure. Derek Geary (knee), Lee Williamson (back), Matthew Kilgallon (ankle), Andrew Davies (hip) and Jordan Stewart (calf) should be available. But manager Kevin Blackwell will still be without Gary Naysmith (knee), Richard Cresswell (ribs), Nick Montgomery (knee), Ian Bennett (thumb) and Paddy Kenny (drugs ban).

Mark Cooper has a fully-fit squad available for his first game in charge of Peterborough. Left-back Tommy Williams has joined QPR on loan since Posh's last game - a 3-1 defeat at Newcastle - so Tommy Rowe, Jamie Day or Scott Griffiths will start at full-back. Striker Aaron Mclean will hope to return to the starting line-up.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Sheff Utd L L L L D; Peterborough D L W L L Top scorers (all competitions): Darius Henderson (Sheff Utd) 7; George Boyd (Peterborough) 10

Referee: Grant Hegley (Hertfordshire).

Watford (12) v Scunthorpe (19)

Ross Jenkins (back) and Jay DeMerit (eye) are still missing for Watford. Back-up goalkeeper Richard Lee (knee) is the Hornets' only other injury absentee. Rookie keeper Jonathan Bond, 16, will be on the bench again as back-up to regular number one Scott Loach, who lines up fresh from keeping two clean sheets for England's Under-21s. Striker Heidar Helguson has returned okay from international duty with Iceland and is likely to start alongside Danny Graham in attack.

Scunthorpe will welcome back Gary Hooper and Josh Wright is also in contention after the duo missed the 4-1 defeat at Blackpool a fortnight ago due to illness. Marcus Williams is back in the reckoning after recovering from a leg injury and could replace George Friend at left-back. Young goalkeeper Josh Lillis will start, as first-choice keeper Joe Murphy serves a one-match ban following his sending off against Ian Holloway's side.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Watford W D W L W; Scunthorpe W W L L L

Top scorers (all competitions): Tom Cleverley & Danny Graham (Watford) 6; Gary Hooper & Grant McCann (Scunthorpe) 6

Referee: Chris Sarginson (Staffordshire).

West Brom (2) v Bristol City (7)

Roberto Di Matteo has no fresh injury problems to contend with as he looks to continue West Brom's recent upturn in fortunes. Albion's internationals have all returned from their respective duties injury free. That leaves long-term trio James Morrison (heel), Ishmael Miller and Neil Clement (both knee) as Di Matteo's only absentees.

Bristol City will once again be without injured Bradley Orr (Achilles) which he initially sustained in the victory at Barnsley last month, so Cole Skuse will continue at right-back. Fellow defender Jamie McAllister (groin) is fit and midfielder Ivan Sproule is back in contention following compassionate leave. Brian Wilson remains on the sidelines due to a shin injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: West Brom W L D W W; Bristol City D W W D D

Top scorers (all competitions): Chris Brunt & Graham Dorrans (West Brom) 4; Nicky Maynard (Bristol City) 10

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).

Monday, November 23

Preston (11) v Newcastle (1)

Preston boss Alan Irvine could hand a debut to on-loan Stoke midfielder Michael Tonge. The 26-year-old, who has made just three appearances in the Carling Cup for the Potters this season, has joined North End until December 28. Midfielder Barry Nicholson remains sidelined but is hoping to beback in action early in 2010 as he recovers from a broken leg suffered in August's 2-0 victory over Peterborough.

Jonas Gutierrez will be fit for Newcastle. The winger sustained a thigh problem during the Magpies' 3-1 win over Peterborough which forced him to pull out of Argentina's friendly with Spain last Saturday, but he is expected to recover in time. Shola Ameobi will be back in training next week after recovering from a foot injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Preston L W D D L; Newcastle L L W W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Chris Brown & Neil Mellor (Preston) 7; Kevin Nolan (Newcastle) 8

Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire).