New loan signing Leroy Lita could make his Charlton debut when the Addicks welcome Preston to The Valley in the Championship on Saturday.

Charlton (5) v Preston (20)

Boss Alan Pardew must decide whether to play his new signing at the expense of Chris Iwelumo, or alongside him.

Defender Ben Thatcher is set to make his return to the starting XI following a knee injury, but Corey Gibbs (foot) is still a few weeks away.

Preston's on-loan striker Craig Beattie has a hamstring injury so Neil Mellor is set to replace him.

Left-back Callum Davidson has completed a ban but boss Alan Irvine may keep faith with Matt Hill after the win at Leicester.

Irvine will also hope to have midfielder Richard Chaplow available after hamstring trouble.

Blackpool (12) v Southampton (18)

Blackpool boss Simon Grayson hopes on-loan Manchester City striker Paul Dickov returns after a hamstring injury - Steve McPhee, Andy Morrell and Ben Burgess are hoping for recalls if he fails to make it.

Skipper Michael Jackson remains sidelined due to torn hamstring but Grayson should have no other fresh worries.

Saints are without midfielder Inigo Idiakez (hamstring) but Gregory Vignal is available after the red card he received at Wolves was rescinded.

Goalkeeper Kelvin Davis (dislocated finger) may miss out - with Michael Poke on stand-by - but defenders Ian Pearce (ankle) and Darren Powell (calf) are doubts and Chris Makin (hip), Nathan Dyer (ankle), Bartosz Bialkowski (thumb) and Claus Lundekvam remain sidelined.

Coventry (21) v Norwich (13)

Coventry held QPR to a goalless draw in midweek but manager Chris Coleman could decide to recall Marcus Hall.

Julian Gray is expected to replace Jay Tabb, who was withdrawn with a knock after 75 minutes in midweek.

Norwich midfielder Darel Russell returns from suspension to partner captain Mark Fotheringham at the heart of the midfield.

That should see Matthew Pattison move out to wide left and Ryan Bertrand move back to left-back with Mo Camara missing out.

Striker Jamie Cureton is pushing for a recall.

Crystal Palace (11) v Colchester (24)

Paul Ifill is a major doubt with hamstring trouble for Crystal Palace - James Scowcroft could start up front.

In-form 17-year-old Lee Hills is expected to come back in with Clint Hill dropping to the bench.

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

Colchester will be without Izale McLeod (knee) while Karl Duguid (foot) and Pat Baldwin (knee) face late fitness tests.

Fellow defender John White is in contention after recovering from a dislocated elbow but second choice goalkeeper Mark Cousins (appendicitis) and forward Mark Yeates (shoulder) remain sidelined.

Hull (8) v Scunthorpe (23)

Hull duo Caleb Folan and Jay-Jay Okocha begin three-match bans but Phil Brown will be hoping for a boost on the injury front.

The Tigers boss will consider the condition of veteran frontman Dean Windass (knee) while midfielders Nick Barmby (groin) and Bryan Hughes (knee) may also come back into contention.

Scunthorpe defender Andy Butler has served a suspension and may struggle to win back his place alongside Andy Crosby at the heart of defence from Izzy Iriekpen.

New loan signing Curtis Weston could go straight into the squad, Geoff Horsfield (hamstring) remains doubtful, while midfielder Matt Sparrow is suspended.

Leicester (19) v Bristol City (1)

Stephen Clemence and James Wesolowski (both hamstring) miss out for Leicester.

New loan signing Kelvin Etuhu will challenge Iain Hume for a starting berth on the right-hand side of midfield.

Bradley Orr is suspended for Bristol City and Brian Wilson is expected to continue to deputise at right-back.

Fellow defenders Louis Carey (toe) and Jamie McAllister are expected to be fit.

McAllister has been receiving treatment for an injury he sustained in the second half against Charlton.

Plymouth (6) v Sheffield United (17)

Argyle are still without Scottish utility player Jim Paterson (hamstring) while Mat Doumbe is making a timely return to fitness as fellow central defender Krisztian Timar is suspended.

Blades boss Kevin Blackwell has the luxury of naming an unchanged squad.

Midfielder Stephen Quinn is again suspended, while on-loan Manchester United winger Lee Martin has knee ligament damage.

Sheffield Wednesday (22) v QPR (15)

Wednesday are without banned duo Jermaine Johnson and Adam Bolder.

Winger Wade Small (hip) faces a late fitness test, while defender Peter Gilbert (groin) is also doubtful.

Long-term absentees Francis Jeffers, Frank Simek (both ankle) and Steve Watson (hamstring) all returned in a midweek practice game, but are not expected to return.

Skipper Lee Bullen (hamstring) and Akpo Sodje (ankle) are still out.

QPR midfielder Gavin Mahon is rated very doubtful with a medial knee ligament injury, so boss Luigi De Canio should have the option of naming an unchanged squad for a third consecutive match.

Winger Gareth Ainsworth is expected to remain on De Canio's bench after recovering from a back injury.

Stoke (3) v Burnley (9)

On-loan defender Chris Riggott could make his debut for Stoke, with Leon Cort (ankle) struggling.

Midfielder Rory Delap returns after a ban, but Glenn Whelan is suspended.

Keeper Steve Simonsen (pelvis) is doubtful, Carlo Nash could be on the bench.

Dominic Matteo (foot) and Marlon Broomes (Achilles) may be in the squad.

Burnley are without suspended duo Joey Gudjonsson and captain Steven Caldwell.

On-loan Arsenal midfielder Mark Randall is likely to step in for Gudjonsson, with Stan Varga or David Unsworth replacing Caldwell.

Left-back Jon Harley should be available after missing the Hull defeat due to the birth of his son.

Sporting Life / Eurosport