Rate it!

2 votes

All the latest team news ahead of the weekend's action in the Championship, with Wolves boss Mick McCarthy missing four players for the trip to QPR.

Saturday, December 6

Barnsley v Reading

Barnsley midfielder Diego Leon misses out after sustaining a hamstring injury in training.

Manager Simon Davey is already without striker Iain Hume (fractured skull), defender Darren Moore (groin) and winger Martin Devaney (ankle), who are all long-term absentees. Striker Miguel Mostto has missed the last two matches but has returned to training and could be included.

Reading boss Steve Coppell is expected to stick with the side which beat Coventry 3-1 on Monday.

Veteran centre-back Michael Duberry is set to keep his place in the centre of defence as Andre Bikey serves the second game of a three-match ban.

Birmingham City v Watford

Nicky Hunt, the Bolton loanee who was forced off due to a hamstring problem at Wolves last time out, has been declared fit for Birmingham. Fellow right-back Stuart Parnaby (hamstring) is now available too after recovering from a hamstring. Stephen Kelly (thigh) is still a few weeks away from a return, while Damien Johnson (back) is heading towards full fitness.

Garry O'Connor has had tendinitis on his groin injury to set him back a few weeks, while Gary McSheffrey (knee) has resumed light training. Sebastian Larsson is ready to return to action after being a late withdrawal at Molineux due to personal reasons.

Captain Jay DeMerit is an injury concern for Watford after he limped out of the midweek Carling Cup defeat to Tottenham just before the hour mark after sustaining a groin problem, having needed stitches in an eye wound at half-time. A late decision will be made on DeMerit's fitness. Should he miss out, right-back Adrian Mariappa would move into the centre of defence with Lloyd Doyley starting at full-back.

Lee Williamson is suspended with youngster John-Joe O'Toole, who has been restricted to substitute appearances recently, likely to replace him.

Blackpool v Charlton Athletic

Blackpool boss Simon Grayson could hand home debuts to striker Liam Dickinson and midfielder Kyel Reid. Dickinson and Reid joined on one-month loans from Derby and West Ham respectively and impressed during last weekend's 2-1 win at Plymouth.

Striker Daniel Nardiello could be on the bench and defender Danny Coid is also set to be fit.

Charlton caretaker boss Phil Parkinson looks set to name an unchanged side. Therry Racon, who suffered a knee injury against QPR recently, is likely to remain sidelined and midfielder Zheng Zhi (foot) is also out.

Bristol City v Swansea

Bristol City striker Dele Adebola (dead leg) faces a race against time to be fit after he limped out of the defeat to Preston early in the second half.

Stern John is fit again after missing the game at Deepdale with an ankle injury while a third striker - Lee Trundle - is in line to face his former club for the first time since his £1million switch to Ashton Gate in August 2007. Defender Jamie McAllister is suspended so Liam Fontaine is likely to be recalled.

Influential Swansea midfielder Jordi Gomez is back after he missed the 2-2 draw with south Wales rivals Cardiff through suspension.

Winger Leon Britton is suspended for the trip to Ashton Gate but Darren Pratley's ban for five yellow cards does not kick in until next Tuesday's game against Barnsley.

Cardiff City v Preston North End

Cardiff will be without Stephen McPhail who begins a two-match suspension after his red card against Swansea.

Manager Dave Jones is hopeful on-loan striker Michael Chopra will feature despite being forced off injured in the derby clash, while defender Darren Purse is pushing for a recall. Left-back Tony Capaldi, who has yet to make a Championship appearance this season, is making good progress and is set for a return to full training this week.

Preston manager Alan Irvine will assess striker Neil Mellor closer to kick-off after he was forced off after just 24 minutes against Bristol City last weekend with hip and shin injuries.

Coventry City v Nottingham Forest

Coventry centre-back Ben Turner is poised to start a Championship match for the first time this season following the news that City captain Scott Dann will be out for at least six weeks with the shoulder injury he sustained against Reading.

Midfielder Aron Gunnarsson limped off against Reading but the Icelander is expected to be fit. Dan Fox must serve a one-match suspension, so Marcus Hall is likely to step in at left-back.

Forest midfielder Chris Cohen has missed the last two games with an ankle injury but has returned to training and will face a fitness test.

Defender Julian Bennett, who has missed the last eight games with a broken collarbone, could be handed a recall to the first-team squad after he made a successful return to play 90 minutes for the reserves in a friendly against Leicester earlier in the week.

Derby County v Crystal Palace

Midfielder Paul Green is a fresh injury absentee for Derby and could be out for up to a month after undergoing surgery on two fingers he broke during the Carling Cup victory at Stoke. Rams boss Paul Jewell is already without defensive trio Martin Albrechtsen (calf), Dean Leacock (groin), Claude Davis (hamstring) and midfielder Steve Davies (fractured eye socket).

Two on-loan players - midfielder Nacer Barazite and striker Luke Varney - return to the squad after being cup-tied at the Britannia Stadium.

Alan Lee is pushing for a return for Palace after more than two monthsout with a hamstring injury and captain Shaun Derry will again push for a start in midfield after being on the bench for the last two games.

Full-back Lee Hills (knee) and midfielders Carl Fletcher (back) and Neil Danns (ankle) are still sidelined.

Doncaster Roversv Plymouth Argyle

Loan pair Shelton Martis and Steve Brooker are out with injury for Doncaster. West Brom defender Martis limped off with a torn hamstring in the 1-1 draw against Watford last weekend and is likely to be out for six weeks so he has returned to his parent club with Sam Hird set to step in.

Bristol City striker Brooker, who scored as a second-half substitute on his debut at Vicarage Road, has suffered a calf injury and has returned to Ashton Gate for treatment.

Emile Mpenza is ruled out with a hamstring injury for Argyle which he suffered against Blackpool last weekend.

Steve MacLean comes into contention along with wingers Craig Noone and Jamie Mackie. Injured right-back David McNamee is also set to miss out and skipper Karl Duguid (calf) remains sidelined.

QPR v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Mikele Leigertwood serves a one-match ban for QPR after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Charlton. Fitz Hall serves the final game of his three-match ban but Argentinian midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma returns after his suspension.

On-loan Bolton striker Heidar Helguson should make his full debut after coming on at half-time during last weekend's draw at Crystal Palace. Captain Martin Rowlands could also start after a thigh injury, but Lee Cook (knee) and Matthew Connolly (back) are still doubts.

Wolves will be without goalkeeper Carl Ikeme (hip), winger Matt Jarvis (hamstring) and defenders Jody Craddock (broken toe) and George Elokobi (anterior cruciate ligament).

Sheffield United v Burnley

Gary Speed will undergo a late fitness test on a back problem for Sheffield United. Matthew Spring stepped in last week and will retain his place if Speed fails to recover. Manager Kevin Blackwell has no further injury or suspension problems.

Carling Cup hero Kevin McDonald is expected to be passed fit for Burnley after picking up a knock in Tuesday's win over Arsenal. Striker Steve Thompson is available again after being ineligible to face the Gunners.

Southampton v Shefield Wednesday

Jason Euell returns for Southampton after completing a three-match ban.

Skipper Michael Svensson is over his recent knee problems but is now struggling with an Achilles injury, and striker Tomas Pekhart is doubtful with ankle trouble. Midfielder Anthony Pulis (foot) is close to a return but defender Wayne Thomas and winger Lee Holmes (both knee) are still sidelined.

Sheffield Wednesday will be without winger Jermaine Johnson (knee), with Etienne Esajas expected to step up.

Defender Tommy Spurr is back in contention after missing the last three matches due to a bruised thigh. Winger Wade Small is also fit again following a hamstring problem but Steve Watson (hip) and defender Peter Gilbert (Achilles) again miss out.

Sunday, December 7

Norwich City v Ipswich Town

Adam Drury is in line to replace the suspended John Kennedy for Norwich after overcoming a muscle strain suffered against Sheffield Wednesday.

Ryan Bertrand is also fit following a back injury and fellow defender Elliot Omozusi is over a hamstring problem. Centre-half Dejan Stefanovic remains the Canaries' only long-term absentee as he battles back from a cruciate injury.

Jon Walters (thigh and hamstring) and Owen Garvan (illness) both face late fitness tests for Ipswich.

Skipper Gareth McAuley came through unscathed last week following a hamstring injury and is expected to start again, while David Norris has recovered from a dead leg.

Sporting Life / Eurosport