Millwall v Middlesbrough (12.45pm)
Millwall manager Kenny Jackett has an unchanged squad for the midday clash with Middlesbrough at The Den. The match comes too soon for skipper Paul Robinson and midfielder Tamika Mkandawire, although both are edging closer to fitness. Defender Robinson hopes to be in contention for the trip to Hull after the international break following a hernia operation while Mkandawire is progressing well after knee surgery and has been pencilled in for a reserve outing next month. Full-back Jack Smith is also ruled out again with the thigh injury he suffered against Blackpool a fortnight ago. Defender Darren Ward has completed a loan switch to League One Swindon until January, when the move could be made permanent.
Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray faces a defensive crisis after skipper Rhys Williams suffered a serious injury. Utility-man Williams damaged ankle ligaments during Tuesday night's 2-0 Capital One Cup victory at Gillingham and could miss a large part of Boro's season. Central defender Jonathan Woodgate has missed the last two games with a groin strain but the problem is not thought to be too serious and he could return to contention, while midfielder Kevin Thomson is battling to overcome a calf injury. Mowbray has acted swiftly to shore up his backline, though, inviting former Burnley man Andre Amougou to train at Rockliffe Park. However, striker Lukas Jutkiewicz (knee ligaments) and midfielder Nicky Bailey (hamstring) remain on the sidelines, while full-back Joe Bennett completed his move to Barclays Premier League Aston Villa on Wednesday.
Barnsley v Bristol City
Key first-team regulars David Perkins, Luke Steele, Matty Done, Jimmy McNulty and Jim O'Brien are all expected to be out until after the international break while summer signings Mido and Toni Silva have yet to play a competitive game for the Tykes after suffering hamstring injuries in pre-season. With Paul Digby, Reuben Noble-Lazarus and Rob Edwards also on the sidelines, the number of players unavailable to Hill has run into double figures. Ben Alnwick will continue in goal after he returned from a three-match suspension in Tuesday's Capital One Cup defeat at Swansea, while leading scorer Craig Davies will be partnered in attack by Marlon Harewood, who was a substitute in midweek. Club stalwart Bobby Hassell and Martin Cranie are pressing for a start after impressing against the Welsh side.
Bristol City manager Derek McInnes is set to name an unchanged line-up. Although the Robins lost their opening game 1-0 at Nottingham Forest, they have since responded by thrashing Crystal Palace 4-1 and Cardiff City 4-2 and there is an air of renewed optimism at Ashton Gate. Striker Sam Baldock came off the bench to score in the win against the Bluebirds and will be pushing McInnes' current front two of Jon Stead and Ryan Taylor for his first start. Like Baldock, fellow summer signing Steve Davies is still awaiting his first inclusion in City's starting line-up, but is unlikely to disrupt McInnes' winning formula. Striker Brett Pitman was left out of the squad to face Cardiff completely, and appears to be out of favour with his manager. Midfielder Martyn Woolford is guaranteed a starting place after making a fantastic start to the season with three goals in his last two games.
Birmingham City v Peterborough United
Captain Carr (thigh) is yet to feature this season while Murphy (knee) has been sidelined for the last 10 days, but their prospective inclusions this weekend will provide a huge boost to under-pressure boss Lee Clark. Centre-back Davies hobbled out of Blues' midweek Capital One Cup defeat at Coventry nursing an ankle injury and should he not make it then Pablo Ibanez will step in alongside Steven Caldwell. With Keith Fahey (groin) still absent, Jonathan Spector is expected to push into central midfield. Peter Lovenkrands' goal on Tuesday means he will likely compete with Nikola Zigic to determine who lines up with Marlon King in attack, as Blues go in search of their first three points of the season in what Clark has labelled a must-win clash.
Captain Gaby Zakuani will return to the Peterborough starting line-up when they travel to Birmingham. Zakuani was one of three players rested for the Capital One Cup defeat to Reading on Tuesday night, along with right-back Craig Alcock and midfielder Lee Frecklington. It remains to be seen whether Shaun Brisley will be able to partner Zakuani at the heart of the defence after injury forced him off at the Madejski Stadium. Tyrone Barnett will continue to be monitored. The striker has yet to feature this season because of a hamstring problem.
Burnley v Brighton and Hove Albion
Stock, who joined the Clarets in the summer, scored the winning penalty against Plymouth in the League Cup on Tuesday in his first appearance for the club. Manager Eddie Howe was encouraged to see the former Doncaster man come through the full 120 minutes unscathed and may hand him his league bow against the Seagulls. Striker Martin Paterson has missed the last three games with a slight hamstring tear and remains doubtful. Although the injury is not thought to be long-term, he will be assessed ahead of kick-off on Saturday with an outside chance of being named on the bench.
Andrea Orlandi goes straight into the Brighton squad. The Spanish midfielder has joined the Seagulls from Swansea for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract. Orlandi will replace Craig Noone in Gus Poyet's squad after the winger completed his move to Cardiff on Thursday. Orlandi's countryman and fellow midfielder Vicente could return after a groin injury while winger Will Buckley hopes to be involved for the first time this season following a hamstring problem. Both will be assessed ahead of kick-off. Forward Will Hoskins remains in the treatment room with the broken foot he suffered during pre-season. The Seagulls picked up their first win of the season when they thumped Barnsley 5-1 last weekend.
Crystal Palace v Sheffield Wednesday
Damien Delaney goes straight into the Crystal Palace squad for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday. The former Republic of Ireland defender has agreed a free transfer to Selhurst Park on a short-term contract. Boss Dougie Freedman has been busy in the transfer market this week and Yannick Bolasie, Andre Moritz and Darcy Blake are all in line to make their home debuts. Freedman could be further boosted by the return of Glenn Murray, who is back to fitness quicker than expected after a knee injury. Midfielder Jonathan Williams could make his first start of the season after returning from a calf injury against Preston in midweek, but skipper Paddy McCarthy faces another few weeks out with a groin problem.
Defender Anthony Gardner is back in contention for a place in the Owls' starting line-up. Gardner missed the last three games with a hamstring injury but could return to the side in place of Mark Beevers against the Eagles. If the defender does return to the squad, he is likely to be manager Dave Jones' only change from the Owls' last league game. Wednesday, who are unbeaten under Jones and sit second in the Championship table, made five changes for their Capital One Cup win over Fulham on Tuesday but are expected to name the same side that beat Millwall last week.
Derby County v Watford
Jake Buxton is expected to return to the Derby squad for the visit of Watford.Buxton, the Rams' leading scorer so far this season with three goals from central defence, missed the 1-1 draw at Wolves through illness. Manager Nigel Clough must decide whether to recall Buxton or stick with James O'Connor alongside captain Richard Keogh at the heart of the back four. Last season's top scorer Theo Robinson will hope to force his way back into the starting line-up after climbing off the bench to score Derby's injury-time equaliser at Molineux.Tom Naylor (groin) and James Bailey (thigh), along with fellow defenders and long-term injury absentees Mark O'Brien (knee) and Shaun Barker (knee) are out. Teenage striker Mason Bennett also remains unavailable as he is still away on England Under-17 duty.
Watford skipper John Eustace again misses out. The midfielder has not featured since picking up a back injury in the club's league opener at Crystal Palace and again sits out at Pride Park. Prince Buaben has not yet featured this term and he misses out against the Rams with a thigh problem. Summer signings Fitz Hall and Alex Geijo continue to work on their fitness and hope to return to full training next week. Midfielder Stephen McGinn rejoined his team-mates this week having put in a host of fitness work as he looks to return to first-team contention after lengthy knee trouble. Manager Gianfranco Zola is likely to revert to the starting XI who saw off Birmingham 2-0 last weekend having made nine changes for Tuesday's 2-1 cup defeat at home to Bradford.
Hull City v Bolton Wanderers
Tom Cairney is Hull manager Steve Bruce's only new injury concern for Bolton's visit to the KC Stadium. The club is waiting for scan results to confirm the full extent of Cairney's knee injury, which he picked up during the Tigers' 3-2 Capital One Cup defeat at Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday when he was felled by a James Husband tackle. Liam Rosenior and Robert Koren are back in contention after recovering from the injuries that kept them out of Hull's cup defeat. Striker Matty Fryatt is still on the sidelines with an Achilles injury, but otherwise Bruce has a full squad to pick from as he looks to win his second home game of the season.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle could be without Joshua Vela and Benik Afobe. Vela was substituted after seven minutes of Tuesday's League Cup defeat with a knee injury. Fellow midfielder Darren Pratley replaced him on the night and is expected to start as Vela awaits the results of a recent scan. Striker Afobe was also withdrawn in that fixture with a rib injury and faces a late fitness test. Marvin Sordell replaced him and could deputise but Coyle is more hopeful on his recovery time. David Ngog played 45 minutes for the reserves in midweek but is still a couple of weeks away from a first team return. Stuart Holden and David Wheater (both knee) remain long-term injury absentees.
Ipswich Town v Huddersfield Town
Ipswich skipper Carlos Edwards will be given every chance to be fit for the club's home clash against Huddersfield. The full-back was forced out of Town's disappointing midweek Capital One Cup defeat at Carlisle after just 15 minutes nursing a groin complaint. Midfielder Luke Hyam (hamstring) missed out on Tuesday and is struggling to be fit for the weekend, as is replacement Josh Carson (groin). Elliott Hewitt (hip) continues his recovery from a hip injury. However, midfielder Guirane N'Daw finally comes into contention for his Ipswich debut having arrived on a season-long loan from St Etienne prior to last Saturday's 6-0 mauling at Blackpool. Defender Damien Delaney, with just one brief cameo to his name this season, will play no part having left the club by mutual consent on Thursday.
Huddersfield travel to Ipswich for their first game without star striker Jordan Rhodes who made a big-money move to Blackburn on Thursday. Rhodes, who scored 36 league goals for the Terriers last season, left for Ewood Park in an £8million deal. Striker Sean Scannell faces a late fitness test after picking up a hamstring injury, while Oscar Gobern is unlikely to recover from a knock in time for the game. James Vaughan is expected to keep his place in the side after making his debut for the club in last weekend's 2-0 victory over Burnley. Winger Danny Ward could be in line for his first start since shaking off an ankle injury.
Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers
Leeds boss Neil Warnock is sweating over the fitness of David Norris ahead of their clash with Blackburn. The midfielder missed Tuesday's League Cup win against Oxford after picking up a knock at Peterborough. Norris will be assessed ahead of kick-off while Warnock is set to recall several senior players to face Rovers. Skipper Lee Peltier, strikers Luciano Becchio and Ross McCormack and keeper Paddy Kenny were all rested in midweek but will return to the starting XI. Summer signing Paul Green remains sidelined and was expected to be out for eight weeks but Warnock hinted the former Derby midfielder may return sooner than expected. Leigh Bromby and Davide Somma remain the only long-term absentees as the Whites aim to extend their unbeaten home run.
Striker Jordan Rhodes will go straight into the Blackburn squad. The Scotland international completed his move from Huddersfield in a club-record £8million deal on Thursday. But boss Steve Kean is sweating on the fitness of Colin Kazim-Richards, the on-loan winger having missed the last two matches with a knee complaint. Kean rested several players in Tuesday's League Cup defeat to MK Dons and is expected to recall several senior members of his squad. Morten Gamst Pedersen and Nuno Gomes were absent and should return to the starting XI. Striker Ruben Rochina made his first start of the season in midweek following a hamstring injury but is likely to drop to the bench.
Nottingham Forest v Charlton Athletic
Henri Lansbury will have to wait for his Nottingham Forest debut, with the midfielder injured for the visit of Charlton. England Under-21 international Lansbury joined Forest this week on a four-year deal from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee but an ankle injury is set to keep him on the sidelines for the foreseeable future. O'Driscoll has no fresh concerns, although striker Marcus Tudgay is still struggling with a groin problem. O'Driscoll made four changes for the Capital One Cup defeat to Wigan in midweek, with Daniel Ayala, Guy Moussi, Chris Cohen and David McGoldrick getting some game time. Cohen got his first senior run-out for 11 months against the Premier League side following the serious knee ligament injury he suffered last September. Brendan Moloney, Adlene Guedioura, Lewis McGugan and Dexter Blackstock made way against Wigan and are likely to come back into the team as Forest resume Championship action, although the likes of Radoslaw Majewski, Jonathan Greening and Sam Hutchinson will also be pushing for starts.
Danny Haynes could be in the Charlton squad but Matt Taylor misses out. Striker Haynes has finally overcome a persistent hamstring problem and is in line to feature for the first time this season. Defender Taylor is unavailable, however, as he is still struggling with the foot injury which forced him out of the goalless draw with Hull last weekend. Recent signing Ricardo Fuller is waiting to make his debut but manager Chris Powell wants the striker to build up his fitness first so he may have to wait until the south London derby with Crystal Palace after the international break. Another new recruit, goalkeeper David Button, will be on the bench as cover for Ben Hamer.
Leicester City v Blackpool (5.20pm)
Manager Nigel Pearson is likely to make a raft of changes when Leicester resume Championship action at home to Blackpool. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and defenders Ritchie De Laet and Paul Konchesky were the only players to keep their places against Burton in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night following defeat at Blackburn last weekend. But after a 4-2 loss to the League Two side at the King Power Stadium, there is a strong possibility the likes of Wes Morgan, Liam Moore, Lloyd Dyer, Danny Drinkwater, Ben Marshall, Jamie Vardy and Jermaine Beckford will be restored to the starting line-up. Defenders Sean St. Ledger and Zak Whitbread and striker Marko Futacs came through the Burton tie unscathed on their return from injuries so midfielder Richie Wellens, who continues to recover from knee surgery, is the only absentee.
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway is expected to name an unchanged line-up at Leicester. The Tangerines thumped Ipswich 6-0 at Bloomfield Road last weekend to maintain their 100 per cent start to the Campionship season. Ian Evatt and Barry Ferguson provide options having both returned to full fitness. They were on the bench against the Tractor Boys. Striker Nouha Dicko is also pushing for a starting role after he scored in an impressive late cameo last weekend. Tom Barkhuizen and Ash Eastham are unavailable after joining neighbours Fleetwood on loan. Matt Phillips is set to be involved once more. Holloway confirmed last week that the winger's situation remains unchanged following his recent transfer request.
