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Blackpool v Leicester

Blackpool midfielders Keith Southern and Wes Hoolahan are pushing for recalls - but striker Stephen McPhee jarred his knee against Bristol City at Ashton Gate, and will undergo a fitness test.

Leicester include new signing Jamie Clapham. Stephen Clemence and DJ Campbell figure after suffering no ill-effects after returning from respective pelvic and calf problems, while Richard Stearman (knee) is fit.

Colchester v Sheff Utd

New signing Dean Hammond is suspended for Colchester and defender Pat Baldwin is still struggling with a knee injury and is unlikely to be risked. Midfielder Kevin Watson (Achilles) and out-of-favour skipper Karl Duguid played 90 minutes of a friendly against Chelsea in midweek to push their claims for recalls.

James Beattie is in the Blades squad after knee trouble but defenders Gary Naysmith (shoulder) and Derek Geary (knee) and striker Jon Stead (hip) need fitness tests. Midfielder Nick Montgomery (foot) is out while Ugo Ehiogu is likely to partner Chris Morgan in central defence following the sale of Leigh Bromby.

Coventry v Barnsley

Defenders Scott Dann and Dan Fox, signed from Walsall this week, could both play for Coventry. Robbie Simpson or Leon Best could join Michael Mifsud in attack after Kevin Kyle and Dele Adebola left the club. Andy Marshall (back) could play after the club failed to bring in a goalkeeper before the transfer deadline.

Barnsley will be without injured goalkeeper Heinz Muller (knee ligaments) and either Nick Colgan or Kyle Letheren will come in. Jon Macken is expected to partner Daniel Nardiello up front. Diego Leon should partner Brian Howard in central midfield.

Crystal Palace v Southampton

Paul Ifill (hamstring) could return to the Palace squad and Neil Danns, who joined from Birmingham for £600,000 last week, is in line to make his debut. Striker Shefki Kuqi could come in if James Scowcroft is rested because of an Achilles problem. Full-back Tony Craig (shoulder) is still on the sidelines.

Gregory Vignal is ruled out by a broken arm but Marek Saganowski is set to return after hamstring trouble and may start following Grzegorz Rasiak's move to Bolton. Youssef Safri could be available after Morocco were eliminated from the African Nations Cup, while centre-half Darren Powell is fit after a calf injury.

Norwich v Preston

Loan signings Alex Pearce, James Henry and Matthew Bates are in contention for their Norwich debuts. The condition of captain Mark Fotheringham (leg) is being monitored with Matthew Pattison on stand-by. Darren Huckerby (hip) may start but Adam Drury (knee) and Luke Chadwick (shoulder) remain sidelined.

Neal Trotman could make his Preston debut after signing from Oldham, with Jason Jarrett joining the League One side on loan. Youl Mawene, Chris Brown and Chris Sedgwick are suspended. Defender Billy Jones is recovering from a hernia operation and goalkeeper Wayne Henderson is sidelined with a back injury.

Plymouth v Hull

Plymouth's Dutch defender Marcel Seip will have a late fitness check on his groin and French central defender Mat Doumbe is on stand-by. Midfielder Chris Clark is poised for his home debut.

Hull manager Phil Brown has no new injury problems to contend with although Ian Ashbee (illness) misses out again. Striker Caleb Folan could be in line to start after his last-minute winner against Coventry.

QPR v Bristol City

QPR are without Fitz Hall (groin) and have fitness worries over Matthew Connolly (knee). Michael Mancienne is likely to come in for Hall, while fellow loanee Kieran Lee could start at right-back if Connolly is ruled out. Reserve goalkeeper Jake Cole (bruised thumb) is the only other injury concern.

Dele Adebola could make his City debut after signing an 18-month deal. Gary Johnson's squad will also be boosted by the return from suspension of winger Ivan Sproule. Captain Louis Carey is expected to resume full training next week after suffering an Achilles injury just before Christmas.

Scunthorpe v Charlton

Geoff Horsfield will go straight into Scunthorpe's squad after the Sheffield United striker joined on loan until the end of the season. Skipper Andy Crosby returns after suffering from a virus and on-loan defender Mamadou Seck could be in the squad. Full-back Cliff Byrne is back from suspension.

Charlton include new loan signing Greg Halford in their squad but defender Sam Sodje is still missing with a hand injury, so Paddy McCarthy and Madjid Bougherra continue at the back. Ben Thatcher is back in training following knee surgery but is short of match fitness and Cory Gibbs (foot) is still out.

Sheff Wed v Ipswich

New loan signing Enoch Showunmi may start as Akpo Sodje and Francis Jeffers are out with ankle injuries, as is long-term absentee Frank Simek. The versatile Steve Watson is sidelined with a hamstring problem and winger Etienne Esajas has a foot injury but defender Tommy Spurr is available after suspension.

Stephen Bywater, David Norris and Velice Sumulikoski could all make their Ipswich debuts but full-back Luis Castro Sito and midfielder Liam Trotter are suspended. Town will also be without goalkeeper Shane Supple and striker Billy Clarke after the pair joined Falkirk on loan for the rest of the season.

Stoke v Cardiff

New signings Glenn Whelan and Paul Gallagher will both be in the Stoke. Gallagher has joined on loan from Blackburn and Whelan has signed permanently from Sheffield Wednesday. Mamady Sidibe could feature after Mali were eliminated from the African Nations Cup. Midfielder Salif Diao could start following John Eustace's departure to Watford but defender Andy Wilkinson faces a double hernia operation and will miss out.

Cardiff should welcome back midfielder Stephen McPhail (hip) but goalkeeper Michael Oakes is doubtful with a head injury. Riccardo Scimeca (groin) is likely to miss out. Steven Thompson could come in for Paul Parry or Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, while fellow forward Robbie Fowler (hip) is definitely missing.

Watford v Wolves

John Eustace, Leigh Bromby and Collins John are all in contention to make their Watford debuts, while midfielder Damien Francis (knee) and striker Darius Henderson (knock) - who missed the draw at Sheffield United - are expected to return. Dan Shittu remains in Ghana with Nigeria's African Nations Cup squad.

Wolves winger Michael Kightly awaits the results of a scan on his troublesome ankle injury but recent arrivals Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and David Edwards are in contention. Freddy Eastwood (hand) and Gary Breen (knee) could return but Jody Craddock (calf) is set to miss out.

West Brom v Burnley

West Brom hope to have Kevin Phillips available after a calf strain, while Ishmael Miller - who made his loan move from Manchester City permanent yesterday - could return to training. The striker has missed the last two matches after suffering a hamstring injury against Cardiff.

Loan singings Andy Cole and Mark Randall could make their Burnley debuts. Striker Cole has signed on loan from Sunderland and midfielder Randall from Arsenal. Kyle Lafferty is suspended and defender Clarke Carlisle (hamstring) is doubtful. Stan Varga's loan from Sunderland has been extended until the end of the season.

Sporting Life / Eurosport