PA Sport - Mon, 08 Feb 16:15:00 2010
Team news ahead of Tuesday's Championship games, with Frank Nouble set to make his West Brom debut after signing on loan from West Ham.
All matches kick-off 7.45pm UK time unless stated.
Cardiff City v Peterborough United
Jay Bothroyd is 50/50 to line-up against struggling Peterborough as Cardiff look to get their play-off charge back on track.
The striker was forced off after 30 minutes of Friday's 5-1 hammering at leaders Newcastle nursing a dead leg and will receive treatment before undergoing a fitness test on Tuesday.
Should he not make it then it will be another blow to an injury-hit Bluebirds squad already missing captain Mark Hudson (ankle) and influential midfielders Gavin Rae (hamstring) and Joe Ledley (hips), while forwards Josh Magennis (broken fibula) and Kelvin Etuhu (ankle) also remain out.
Peterborough utility man Charlie Lee is a fitness doubt and both Josh Simpson and Lee Frecklington are both options to replace him if required.
Defender Gabriel Zakuani remains the only other absentee for Jim Gannon as he recovers from a groin injury.
Coventry City v Nottingham Forest
Coventry have no new injury or suspension concerns as they prepare for the visit of high-flying midlands rivals Nottingham Forest.
The Sky Blues recorded their third draw on the bounce at the weekend as Bristol City came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw, and any changes from that encounter are expected to be purely tactical.
Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies may tinker with his starting line-up after Radoslaw Majewski and Paul Anderson were left out of the starting XI for Saturday's 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.
Davies has no injury or suspension worries to contend with but Nathan Tyson will be hoping to retain his place after making his first start of 2010 against the Owls.
Crystal Palace v Swansea City (8pm)
Crystal Palace Neil Warnock could name an unchanged side for the visit of Swansea.
The Eagles made it three wins out of three when a last-gasp Neil Danns goal secured a 2-1 victory at Scunthorpe on Saturday.
Paulo Sousa could also name an unchanged side after the Swans outclassed Preston in a 2-0 victory at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday to stretch their unbeaten run to seven Coca-Cola Championship matches.
Sousa has no new injuries or suspensions to contend with and full-back Angel Rangel (ankle) will come back into contention if he passes a fitness test.
Derby County v Newcastle United
Michael Tonge will make his Derby debut against his former club when the Rams travel to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United.
He will replace Lee Johnson in the centre of midfield after the diminutive playmaker returned to Bristol City following the conclusion of his loan.
Another deadline-day recruit - Manchester City defender Javan Vidal - is expected to be included in the squad after arriving on a loan, while David Martin could feature if his move from Millwall goes through on time.
Alan Smith will return to the Newcastle squad after the experienced midfielder missed Friday evening's 5-1 victory over Cardiff with a thigh problem.
However, Fabricio Coloccini, who also missed out against the Bluebirds with a hamstring strain, remains a doubt, while Nicky Butt (thigh) will be sidelined once again.
Leicester City v Doncaster Rovers
Midfielder Richie Wellens returns from suspension as promotion-chasing Leicester welcome Doncaster.
Nolberto Solano missed Saturday's 2-1 win at Blackpool after returning to Peru for personal reasons, but the midfielder was back in training on Monday and could be involved in the squad.
Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll is expected to name an unchanged starting line-up to the side which slumped to a four straight defeat at the weekend.
Centre-halves Jason Shackell (groin), Adam Lockwood (foot) and Byron Webster (foot) all remain sidelined, the latter breaking a metatarsal in training last week.
James Hayter and Lewis Guy, both second-half substitutes against Reading, are pushing for recalls as O'Driscoll's side chase their first league win since the home victory over Watford on January 16.
Middlesbrough v Barnsley (8pm)
Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan will make a late decision on whether or not to include new signing Scott McDonald in his side to face Barnsley.
The Australian missed Saturday's 1-1 draw at Ipswich after suffering a reaction to his return to training following hernia surgery, and he will be assessed over the next 24 hours.
Midfielder Julio Arca is in a similar position while, Chris Riggott, Emanuel Pogatetz and Jeremie Aliadiere are also not match fit.
Utility man Rhys Williams is set to be sidelined for several weeks yet with a pelvic injury, while Seb Hines (ankle and knee ligament) and Matthew Bates (cruciate ligament) remain on the long-term casualty list.
Barnsley will be without defender Ryan Shotton, on loan from Stoke, who was shown a straight red card following a late tackle on Lloyd Doyley in Saturday's win over Watford.
Tykes manager Mark Robins is already without defensive duo Bobby Hassell (groin) and Rob Kozluk (knee) and could hand a rare first-team appearance to 20-year-old Luke Potter.
Preston North End v Sheffield United
Preston manager Darren Ferguson could ring the changes for his side's home clash with Sheffield United following the weekend defeat to Swansea City.
Injured duo Richard Chaplow (groin) and defender Callum Davidson (concussion) will be assessed while Matthew James could feature after agreeing to join on loan from Manchester United.
Defender Neill Collins and winger Ross Wallace could return to the starting line-up after being dropped to the bench at the Liberty Stadium.
Sheffield United goalkeeper Mark Bunn is the latest to fall under the Bramall Lane injury curse this season and is expected to miss the trip.
Bunn sustained an injury to his thigh and a possible broken finger in the weekend draw with Derby while skipper Chris Morgan is still sidelined after tearing a rib muscle in last week's defeat at Watford and Marcel Seip (hamstring) is not ready to return.
But manager Kevin Blackwell can call on defender Andy Taylor, who has been out with a hamstring strain.
Queens Park Rangers v Ipswich Town (8pm)
QPR duo Mikele Leigertwood and Peter Ramage are suspended for the visit of Ipswich.
Midfielder Leigertwood starts a three-match ban for his straight red card during Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Peterborough and defender Ramage, who was sent off for a second booking, sits out one game.
Akos Buzsaky or Hogan Ephraim could return to the midfield while Matt Connolly will move across to right-back with Damion Stewart recalled to the back four.
On-loan Tottenham forward Adel Taarabt did not travel to London Road and could be added to the squad, while Arsenal loanee Jay Simpson will push to start in attack after coming on as a substitute.
Ipswich manager Roy Keane has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip.
Keane handed debuts to on-loan Sunderland forwards David Healy and Daryl Murphy on Saturday and the duo combined to open the scoring after just 22 seconds against Middlesbrough.
The pair are set to continue up front while Keane has been boosted by the return to fitness of captain Jon Walters.
Reading v Plymouth Argyle (8pm)
Reading will be without suspended defender Matt Mills for the relegation six-pointer at home to Plymouth.
Midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson was absent on Saturday after taking a knock to his foot but he could return, though replacement Brian Howard scored one and made the second against Doncaster and should keep his place regardless.
Noel Hunt (knee), Chris Armstrong (knee) and Julian Kelly (shoulder) all remain sidelined.
Plymouth head coach Paul Mariner will be forced to change his starting line-up after right-back Karl Duguid turned his ankle just before half-time in Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to West Brom.
Mariner handed a debut to new midfielder Damien Johnson alongside skipper Carl Fletcher, with youngster Luke Summerfield dropping to the bench.
He is set to stick with that pairing against the Royals, although new American striker Kenny Cooper could start in attack ahead of Rory Fallon.
Sheffield Wednesday v Blackpool
Sheffield Wednesday manager Alan Irvine will name his starting line-up from an unchanged squad for the midweek home game with Blackpool.
Irvine's side went down narrowly at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but the Scot has no new injury or suspension problems and is unlikely to make many, if any, changes.
American right-back Frank Simek is expected to retain his place after being handed a rare start this season at Forest.
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has axed a trio of players from his squad to face Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday after they were spotted enjoying a night out at the weekend.
Barry Bannan, Neal Eardley and Ishmel Demontagnac - who all featured against Leicester - were spotted in a Blackpool nightspot in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Holloway has accused all three of lacking professionalism and dropped them from the party that will travel to Hillsborough on Tuesday.
Holloway said: "You can't hide a thing in Blackpool and I'm very, very disappointed in them.
"I've dropped them from squad the squad as I want to send out a message that I won't have that."
Watford v Bristol City
Watford are hoping midfielder Tom Cleverley will be fit for the visit of Bristol City.
The on-loan Manchester United midfielder missed Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Barnsley with a knee injury and faces a late fitness test.
Jon Harley deputised at Oakwell and could keep his place if Cleverley is ruled out again, although recent signing Stephen McGinn is also pushing to be involved.
Another January recruit, winger Will Buckley, will be included if he shakes off a thigh strain in time while striker Danny Graham is also pressing to start, having been restricted to substitute appearances in the last three games.
Bristol City are expected to be without injured Nicky Maynard and Jamal Campbell-Ryce.
Danny Haynes and David Clarkson will be vying to replace Maynard while Cole Skuse could return after recovering from a stomach muscle strain.
Robins boss Gary Johnson could recall midfielder Ivan Sproule as his side look to improve on a poor run of just one win in their last 10 games.
West Bromwich Albion v Scunthorpe United
West Brom could hand West Ham loanee Frank Nouble a debut when they host Scunthorpe at the Hawthorns.
His arrival is designed to combat the loss of Ishmael Miller (ankle) for at least two weeks, while winger Jerome Thomas also starts a four-match ban following his late dismissal in Saturday's 1-0 win at Plymouth.
Deadline-day signing Andy Slory is also competing for his first start on the wing. Marek Cech (hamstring), who missed Saturday's trip to Home Park, is ruled out once again but, having been rested for the clash, first-team trio Jonas Olsson, Gonzalo Jara and Robert Koren will all be pressing for a recall.
Scunthorpe will be without suspended Marcus Williams and injured Garry Thompson.
On-loan Nottingham Forest full-back Brendan Moloney is expected to replace Williams in what will be his first start for the Iron.
Midfielder Thompson sustained a hamstring injury against the Eagles, so either Michael O'Connor or Josh Wright will come into the starting line-up.
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