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Brief team news ahead of the weekend's Championship action with Birmingham missing a trio of players for their trip to Watford.

Charlton (24) v Blackpool (18)

Charlton are likely to be unchanged for the third game running as they attempt to stave off relegation at home to Blackpool. Midfielder Jose Semedo has stepped up his training following an ankle injury but will not be risked, while defender Jonathan Fortune (Achilles) and striker Andy Gray (pelvis) are still missing.

Blackpool will be without Stephen McPhee after he was ruled out for up to six months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Boss Tony Parkes will also be without Gary Taylor-Fletcher who underwent a knee operation recently, while midfielder Joe Martin will be missing with a thigh injury.

Crystal Palace (13) v Derby (17)

Crystal Palace will be without defender Claude Davis who has received a three-match ban for violent conduct and was ineligible to face his parent club in any case. Matt Lawrence or Jose Fonte will partner Paddy McCarthy at the back. Midfielders John Oster (neck) and Neil Danns (groin) remain doubtful so teenager James Comley could keep his place.

Jay McEveley broke a bone in his foot in Monday's defeat to Wolves to join a injury list which includes Paul Green, Miles Addison and Steve Davies. With Jordan Stewart also still absent, centre-half Lewin Nyatanga is expected to fill in for McEveley. Striker Chris Porter is closing in on a return from the hip injury which has kept him out since the start of March.

Nottingham Forest (22) v Coventry (14)

Nathan Tyson could return from an ankle injury while Joel Lynch is available after missing Monday's trip to Sheffield United for family reasons. Kelvin Wilson will start a three-match ban following his red card at Bramall Lane. Robert Earnshaw (knee) and Guy Moussi (ankle) are both doubtful while Iain Turner (broken toe) is definitely out.

Midfielder Guillaume Beuzelin is a doubt after being on the receiving end of a heavy challenge during the Sky Blues' goalless draw against Charlton on Monday. Aron Gunnarsson (calf) could be ready in time to replace him while striker Robbie Simpson (Achilles) could also be back in the reckoning.

Plymouth (19) v Doncaster (16)

Plymouth centre-back Craig Cathcart is still sidelined with a knee injury so left-back Chris Barker is set to deputise at the heart of defence. Boss Paul Sturrock is also waiting on two unnamed players who have suffered knocks in the last week, but hopes to be able to name an unchanged side.

Doncaster will be without defender Adam Lockwood due to an ankle injury, which could force him to miss the rest of the season. Boss Sean O'Driscoll has no other new injury concerns although James O'Connor, Brian Stock and James Coppinger have already been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

Preston (8) v Cardiff (4)

Preston boss Alan Irvine is unlikely to make many changes to his side. He has a selection poser in attack after strikers Chris Brown and Neil Mellor both scored in the 2-0 defeat of Doncaster on Monday while Stephen Elliott and Jon Parkin are also hoping for a recall. Callum Davidson is still out with a hamstring strain.

Roger Johnson is unlikely to be risked after he spent two nights in hospital after taking a blow to his throat from Crystal Palace defender Claude Davis last weekend. Darren Purse should continue to partner Gabor Gyepes in his absence.

Reading (5) v Barnsley (21)

Reading manager Steve Coppell hopes to have top scorer Kevin Doyle back from a knee injury. Midfielders Kalifa Cisse (neck) and Brynjar Gunnarsson (hamstring) are both back in training and are expected to be in contention but James Harper remains sidelined. Right-back Liam Rosenior is back from suspension and should return in place of Julian Kelly.

Barnsley manager Simon Davey will pick from a full-strength squad and could be tempted to make changes. Striker Michael Mifsud is hoping for a recall to the starting line-up and goalkeeper Luke Steele could come into the reckoning for a rare start. Midfielder Hugo Colace and winger Martin Devaney are also pushing for returns.

Sheffield Wednesday (12) v Southampton (23)

Sheffield Wednesday will be without Akpo Sodje due to a hamstring injury. Defender Frank Simek could return after missing out last week with a groin strain, while on-loan Derby striker Luke Varney will play his last match before returning to Pride Park.

Southampton are likely to be unchanged from the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Easter Monday. Strikers Jason Euell and Bradley Wright-Phillips were recalled against Palace and should keep their places in a three-man attack alongside goalscorer David McGoldrick. Midfielder Simon Gillett is out for the season after damaging knee cartilage while player-coach Michael Svensson (Achilles), centre-back Wayne Thomas (knee), midfielder Anthony Pulis (foot) and striker Jamie White (ankle) remain long-term absentees.

Swansea (7) v Bristol City (9)

Swansea full-back Angel Rangel is set to be sidelined for the third consecutive game with a heel injury. Matty Collins is back in training after a stomach injury and could come into contention, but Guillem Bauza is a doubt after sustaining an ankle injury playing for the reserves in midweek.

Bristol City goalkeeper Adriano Basso has been passed fit after being forced off with an ankle injury in the draw against Ipswich on Easter Monday. Elsewhere, Jamie McAllister comes back into the reckoning after a one-match suspension but fellow full-back Bradley Orr begins a two-game ban. Centre-half Liam Fontaine has recovered from concussion and is available again but captain Louis Carey (ribs) will miss out once more.

Watford (15) v Birmingham (2)

Watford striker Tamas Priskin returned to training during the week and could return from the knee injury that forced him out of the 2-0 defeat at Norwich on Easter Monday. Midfielder Don Cowie remains sidelined with a thigh injury, Grzegorz Rasiak has returned to training and could recover from a groin injury while Will Hoskins is fit after a knock.

Birmingham will be without goalkeeper Maik Taylor (pictured, suspension) with Colin Doyle set to deputise. Central defender Liam Ridgewell suffered a broken leg in Monday's draw with Plymouth and faces up to nine months out, while captain Lee Carsley also serves the third and final game of his ban.

Wolves (1) v QPR (10)

Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (hamstring) could return after missing the past three games. Chris Iwelumo remains sidelined with a knee injury, but is optimistic he could play some part in the final fixture of the season at home to Doncaster. Winger Michael Kightly, however, remains sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with a broken metatarsal.

Rowan Vine is pushing for a start after scoring his first goal in almost a year after battling back from a broken leg. Iceland international Heidar Helguson should keep his place in attack after returning from a hamstring injury.

Sunday, April 19

Ipswich (11) v Norwich (20)

David Wright could miss out with a hamstring injury suffered in the 1-1 draw with Bristol City on Monday. Alex Bruce filled in at full-back after Wright went off and could start there with Ivan Campo returning at centre-half. Captain Gareth McAuley, who has missed the past three games, is another option as he steps up his recovery from a hamstring problem. Jon Walters (ankle) is also a doubt, but Jon Stead will be fit to play.

Norwich manager Bryan Gunn hopes to name an unchanged side. Full-back Ryan Bertrand came off during the closing stages of the Canaries' 2-0 win over Watford on Monday but has trained during the week and is expected to play. David Mooney has also recovered from a knock.

Monday, April 20

Burnley (6) v Sheffield United (3)

Burnley manager Owen Coyle has a number of injury worries. Steven Thompson has been out for five weeks with ankle ligament damage while Martin Paterson (hamstring) did not feature at Cardiff. Skipper Steven Caldwell was also absent from training on Wednesday and Coyle will monitor his fitness.

Defender Matt Kilgallon is set to miss out despite scans revealing his knee injury is not as bad as first expected. Leigh Bromby will continue to deputise alongside skipper Chris Morgan at the heart of defence.

Sporting Life / Eurosport