Championship - Team News: Phillips back

Eurosport - Tue, 04 Mar 10:51:00 2008

All the team news ahead of tonight's busy Championship programme with player- of-the-year Kevin Phillips fit again for title chasing West Brom.

FOOTBALL 2007-2008 Championship West Brom Kevin Phillips - 0

You can follow LIVE scoring of all tonight's fixtures right here on eurosport.yahoo.co.uk from 19.45 GMT.

Blackpool v Barnsley 19:45

Blackpool goal-hero Steve McPhee is expected to be passed fit when his in-form side host Barnsley. The former Hull striker fell awkwardly and suffered a badly sprained wrist in the opening minutes of Saturday's 2-1 win at Norwich.

However, he shrugged off the pain to score a brace of first-half goals which took his tally to three in five starts for Simon Grayson's men.

McPhee should be fit for the Tykes clash despite his injured left arm being put in a sling after the Carrow Road victory.

Fellow frontman Paul Dickov is also expected to be passed fit for the visit of the FA Cup quarter-finalists.

The on-loan Manchester City striker missed the weekend win at Norwich through sickness but should return to the starting line-up alongside McPhee at the expense of Andy Morrell.

Dennis Souza will go straight back into Barnsley's starting line-up after suspension. The Brazilian centre-half missed the goalless derby draw with Sheffield Wednesday under the totting-up procedure.

But Tykes manager Simon Davey will be without fellow defender Rob Kozluk, who sits out a one-game ban after his late dismissal on Saturday.

Bobby Hassell could drop back into the back-four as cover for Kozluk, with Sam Togwell an option in midfield.

Davey has no other new injury or suspension problems, but could be tempted to make changes for the trip to Bloomfield Road.

Kayode Odejayi and Martin Devaney are both pushing for a return to the starting line-up as Barnsley chase their first league win in five matches.

Charlton v Bristol City 19:45

Scott Sinclair could be in line for his full Charlton debut .The on-loan Chelsea winger came off the bench in the Addicks' 2-0 win at Sheffield United, and could start depending on the formation boss Alan Pardew employs.

Pardew must decide whether to continue playing Chris Iwelumo as a lone striker, or to push Luke Varney or Andy Gray up alongside Saturday's goalscorer.

Large-scale changes are unlikely after the Addicks defence reacted to criticism from their boss following the shock 5-3 defeat at Blackpool by producing a solid performance at the weekend.

Strikers Chris Dickson and Svetoslav Todorov are out with knee problems while Madjid Bougherra remains absent with an ongoing foot injury.

Defenders Ben Thatcher (knee) and Cory Gibbs (foot) continue their rehabilitation with the reserves.

Louis Carey remains doubtful for Bristol City. The defender had hoped to return against Hull on Saturday before his troublesome foot injury flared up again, putting his involvement at The Valley into question.

Robins boss Gary Johnson, who is expected to name an unchanged starting XI against the Addick but Scott Murray and Cole Skuse could be recalled the bench.

Crystal Palace v Cardiff 20:00

Crystal Palace welcome back three of their most influential players to their starting line-up.

James Scowcroft, Clint Hill and Tom Soares all return from one-match bans they served in the 1-0 Championship victory at Preston on Saturday, which ended the Eagles' run of six games without a win.

Scowcroft, the scorer of Palace's only goal in their last three matches at Selhurst Park, could come into the frame to partner Saturday's goalscorer Clinton Morrison, at the expense of Victor Moses.

Hill's return could allow youngster Lee Hills to switch back into midfield.

Paul Ifill played over an hour at the weekend and seems to have recovered from hamstring trouble, but will find himself under pressure from Soares for a starting berth in the Eagles midfield.

Neil Danns (groin), Mark Kennedy (match fitness) and Tony Craig (shoulder) are all set to miss out.

Cardiff manager Dave Jones welcomes back defender Glenn Loovens for the trip to Selhurst Park.

Loovens has missed the last two games due to suspension and could be handed an immediate recall at the expense of Darren Purse, who scored an own goal in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Leicester.

Fit-again midfielder Riccardo Scimeca made his first appearance of the season as a late substitute in that game and will hope to have done enough to earn a place in the starting line-up.

Winger Joe Ledley is rated doubtful with a hamstring problem but will return in time for this weekend's FA Cup quarter-final against Middlesbrough should he fail a late fitness test, but long-term absentee Robbie Fowler remains sidelined with a hip injury.

Jones revealed he will consider making changes so Trevor Sinclair, Steve Thompson and Darcy Blake could benefit.

Hull v Burnley 19:45

Hull manager Phil Brown is likely to field an unchanged side for the visit of Burnley to the KC Stadium.

After making his debut at the weekend in the Tigers' 2-1 defeat at Bristol City, defender Neil Clement is likely to maintain his place in the starting XI despite Michael Turner completing his suspension against the Robins.

On-loan Manchester United youngster Fraizer Campbell will again strengthen the front-line alongside Caleb Folan.

The Tigers are currently two points away from a play-off place with twelve games remaining.

Burnley manager Owen Coyle could hand birthday-boy Robbie Blake a place in the starting XI for the trip to their play-off rivals. Blake, who turns 32 on Tuesday, replaced Ade Akinbiyi during the second half of Saturday's 2-2 draw with Watford.

He scored twice in the final 15 minutes to register his 50th and 51st league goals for the Clarets.

Akinbiyi had been guilty of a dreadful miss prior to being substituted and could now find himself replaced in the starting line-up by Blake.

Coyle will check on the fitness of on-loan Sunderland centre-back Stanislav Varga (flu), who missed Saturday's clash.

Defender Michael Duff, midfielder Alan Mahon and forward Besart Berisha remain sidelined, though Duff and Mahon are edging closer to a return.

Ipswich v Sheff Utd 19:45

Ipswich boss Jim Magilton will hand a late fitness test to midfielder Alan Quinn ahead of the game with Sheffield United at Portman Road.

Quinn was forced off in the recent 1-0 defeat at Stoke after taking a kick to his ankle but a scan revealed no ligament damage.

The Republic of Ireland international has bone bruising and Magilton will assess his recovery in training. Owen Garvan is on standby to replace Quinn if required.

Magilton has no other injury or suspension problems though forward Jon Walters is still struggling to shake off an on-going knee problem but could once again play through the pain barrier.

The former Bolton man revealed that he often misses training with the injury - which may require an operation in the summer.

The Tractor boys will be hoping for a return to winning ways in a bid to keep themselves in the play-off places after collecting only one point from their last two league games.

Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell will give late fitness tests to two of his players. Blackwell, who refused to reveal the identity of the injured duo, will be without on-loan Manchester United winger Lee Martin, who has a knee ligament injury, and the suspended Stephen Quinn.

Quinn will sit out the first of a three-game ban following his last-minute dismissal against Charlton.

Blackwell revealed he was ready to make changes at Bramall Lane after Saturday's 2-0 defeat and could be tempted to switch his strikers.

James Beattie and Billy Sharp could make way for second-half replacements Rob Hulse and Jon Stead in the starting line-up, while David Carney and Keith Gillespie will both be hoping to return to the starting line-up.

Leicester v Preston 19:45

Gareth McAuley's return from suspension will be the only change to the Leicester squad. The Northern Ireland international defender served a one-match ban as his team-mates carved out a 1-0 win at Cardiff on Saturday.

He may have to settle for a place on the bench after his replacement at Ninian Park, Bruno N'Gotty, helped the Foxes keep a clean sheet.

Goalkeeper Paul Henderson should retain his place with on-loan stopper Ben Alnwick expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the month with the thigh injury he suffered in training at the end of last week.

Levi Porter and Elvis Hammond remain long-term absentees with respective knee and ankle injuries.

Preston manager Alan Irvine could make changes after eelegation-threatened North End slipped back into trouble on Saturday as Crystal Palace claimed a 1-0 win at Deepdale.

Irvine was bitterly disappointed with the display and substituted ineffective striker Karl Hawley and winger Simon Whaley at half-time.

He replaced them with Neil Mellor and Lewis Neal and the pair could now win promotions to the starting line-up at the Walkers Stadium.

Irvine will hope to have midfielder Richard Chaplow available again after he missed the weekend defeat due to a hamstring injury.

However, defender Callum Davidson is suspended as he serves the second game of a two-match ban while Matt Hill will again deputise for the Scot.

Plymouth v Colchester 19:45

Plymouth are set to be without injured duo Jim Paterson and Mat Doumbe. Utility player Paterson and central defender Doumbe are both sidelined with hamstring injuries so on-loan Derby winger Gary Teale is again set to replace Paterson on the right side of a four-man midfield.

Fellow loanee Russell Anderson has played at centre-back in Doumbe's place, while fit-again Dutch defender Marcel Seip was introduced as a substitute in the 3-0 defeat at West Brom and is likely to feature against the Us.

Argyle's defeat at The Hawthorns was their first in five games after a run of four successive Championship wins.

Colchester will once again be without John White for the crucial trip. The full-back missed Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Wolves with a dislocated elbow and will not recover in time.

Dean Hammond should return to the heart of the Us' midfield in place of Karl Duguid who is rated doubtful following the foot injury which forced him off during the first half at the weekend.

Veteran striker Teddy Sheringham competes for a place in attack alongside Kevin Lisbie after announcing his plans to retire at the end of the season.

Goalkeeping coach Ademola Bankole is again set for an appearance on the bench with second-choice keeper Mark Cousins forced out due to a bout of appendicitis.

Defender Pat Baldwin is still struggling with a knee injury and forward Mark Yeates (shoulder) is out for the rest of the season.

Sheff Wed v West Brom 19:45

Jermaine Johnson will return to Sheffield Wednesday's injury-plagued squad. The former Bradford winger sat out Saturday's goalless derby at Barnsley due to a one-game ban.

But Owls boss Brian Laws could be without fellow wide man Wade Small, who will undergo a late fitness test after sustaining a hip injury at Oakwell, while Peter Gilbert is nursing a groin problem.

Enoch Showunmi is expected to resume his partnership with Marcus Tudgay after extending his loan from Bristol City for another month.

Fellow loanee, Derby midfielder Adam Bolder, is also available, but will start a two-game ban on Saturday.

Akpo Sodje is to undergo ankle surgery this week and Laws is still without Steve Watson (hamstring), Francis Jeffers, Frank Simek (both ankle), Etienne Esajas (foot) and Leon Clarke (knee).

Kevin Phillips and James Morrison look set to return to West Brom's squad for the trip to Sheffield Wednesday - but may only be on the bench.

Newly-crowned Championship player of the year Phillips resumed training on Monday just hours after returning from the Football League awards ceremony in London the previous evening. Phillips missed the 3-0 win over Plymouth with a knee problem

Morrison is also poised to return after tendonitis, but fellow midfielder Filipe Teixeira is ruled out after suffering a knee injury against Plymouth.

Watford v Norwich 19:45

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd has no fresh injury concerns with captain Jay DeMerit pushing for a return to the starting XI.

DeMerit has now made two substitute appearances since returning from a groin injury and could force his way back in to Boothroyd's side.

Transfer deadline-day signing Leigh Bromby has excelled in DeMerit's absence alongside Danny Shittu but could move to right-back to accommodate his skipper's return with Adrian Mariappa dropping out.

Norwich boss Glenn Roeder could be without Darren Huckerby for the trip to Vicarage Road to face Watford in the Championship.

Huckerby left the field after Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Blackpool with a groin complaint and Roeder will make a late decision on whether or not to include him in his matchday 16.

Goalkeeper David Marshall also picked up a dead leg against the Tangerines but is expected to recover in time to make the trip to Vicarage Road.

Tenacious midfielder Darel Russell continues to be absent as he serves the final game of a three-match suspension while Alex Pearce should continue in defence.

Long-term absentees Adam Drury (ankle) and Luke Chadwick (shoulder) remain in the treatment room as the Canaries look to return to winning ways following Saturday's defeat.

Wolverhampton v Southampton 19:45

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is certain to be without Jody Craddock for the visit of Southampton.

Craddock was forced off just 33 minutes into Saturday's 1-0 win at Colchester with an ankle injury and will be missing against Saints.

Kevin Foley could be called in as a replacement after coming on for the former Sunderland defender at Layer Road, while centre-back Darren Ward will hope his spell out of the side will be brought to an end.

Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey came through the weekend game unscathed after suffering concussion the previous week, but Stephen Ward (knee) and newly-crowned Football League Young Player of the Year Michael Kightly (ankle) are both still out of action.

Seyi Olofinjana could earn a recall to McCarthy's 16-man squad after being left out entirely at the weekend and winger Matt Jarvis could also feature after returning to training last week.

Victory for McCarthy's side could move them back into the play-offs should results go their way elsewhere.

Andrew Surman, Ian Pearce and Darren Powell face fitness tests as Nigel Pearson still searches for his first win as Southampton boss. Powell is thought to be extremely doubtful with his calf injury, so Wayne Thomas and Andrew Davies should form the central defence.

Alex Ostlund has returned to training but is unlikely to dislodge Jermaine Wright from the right-back position.

Striker Bradley Wright-Phillips is also in contention for a starting berth alongside Stern John, if Pearson elects to play two up-front.

Defender Chris Makin (hip), midfielder Nathan Dyer (ankle) and goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski (thumb) are all long-term absentees.

Injury-ravaged club captain Claus Lundekvam is ruled out for the rest of the season with his ankle injury.

TeamTalk (Edited by Sean Fay) / Eurosport