Bradford boss Jim Jefferies will give late tests to David Hopkin and Billy McKinlay after both picked up knocks in City's 2-0 defeat at Arsenal on Tuesday night.

Robbie Blake has recovered from the flu bug which ruled him out of the trip to Highbury but Jamie Lawrence is still definitely out with the bruised toe he picked up last week while on international duty with Jamaica.

There is no place in the squad for Benito Carbone.

Mark Delaney is poised to start only his second game of the season for Villa, taking over from Steve Stone who misses the trip because of a one-match ban.

Julian Joachim is pressing for a recall after scoring as substitute against Leicester during last weekend’s FA Cup defeat.

David Ginola, who did not even get on to the bench against Leicester and was given a reserve team run-out against Welsh part-timers Newtown, is in the squad. Captain Gareth Southgate is still sidelined by a knee ligament injury.

Last season: Bradford 1 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 1 Bradford 0

Last five league matches: Bradford L W L D L, Aston Villa L L L L L

Top scorers: Benito Carbone, Dean Windass (Bradford) 5

Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 5

Match odds: H 13/8 A 13/10 D 9/4

Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury)

Coventry (19) v Arsenal (2):

John Aloisi and Cedric Roussel are in line for recalls to Coventry’s attack. The Sky Blues have failed to score in their last two matches against Manchester City and Leeds Utd and are desperately in need of an in-form striker.

Arsenal will be without Thierry Henry, who has been ruled out by a thigh strain, Martin Keown (knee), Fredrik Ljungberg (ankle) and Edu (hamstring).

Gilles Grimandi and Lauren have meanwhile already returned to action after recent injuries, while Tony Adams will be hoping to play his third game in eight days.

Last season: Arsenal 3 Coventry 0, Coventry 3 Arsenal 2

Last five league matches: Coventry D D L L L, Arsenal D L D D W

Top scorers: John Aloisi, Craig Bellamy (Coventry) 6

Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 14

Match odds: H 3/1 A 13/10 D 9/4

Ref: M Dean (The Wirral)

Derby (17) v Sunderland (3):

Nigerian defender Taribo West returns to the Derby squad. He resumed training after going AWOL following the World Cup qualifier against Sudan at the weekend and missing the midweek defeat by Charlton.

West is likely to replace Youl Manewe, who is out with a knee injury while Bjorn Otto Bragstad is doubtful, with a bruised instep.

Sunderland will be without Niall Quinn and record signing Emerson Thome.

Quinn spent Wednesday night in a local hospital with a spasm in the neck following the defeat against Manchester United and though he has been released he is ruled out.

Thome suffered a recurrence of a calf injury after just six minutes of a substitute appearance and is not considered while Kevin Phillips is still receiving treatment for a dead leg.

Danny Dichio returns after suspension and though Peter Reid will discipline Michael Gray and Alex Rae after their dismissals in midweek, they remain in the starting line up.

Last season: Sunderland 1 Derby 1, Derby 0 Sunderland 5

Last five league matches: Derby L W L D L, Sunderland D W W D L

Top Scorers: Malcolm Christie (Derby) 10

Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 14

Match Odds: H 7/4 A 5/4 D 11/5

Ref: B Knight (Orpington)

Ipswich (5) v Leeds (10)

Ipswich right-back Fabian Wilnis is out for a month with a torn hamstring and central defender John McGreal starts a two-match ban after being sent off at Chelsea.

Jim Magilton will be missing from midfield because of a sore hamstring sustained in the Worthington Cup semi-final defeat at Birmingham on Wednesday.

Titus Bramble has a late fitness test on a damaged shin. Striker Alun Armstrong, cup-tied on Wednesday, is set to return.

Lee Bowyer faces a late rush if he is to be present to boost Leeds’ belated push for a European place.

Jonathan Woodgate is expected to miss out again with a heel injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Ipswich D W L W L, Leeds D W L W W

Top scorers: Marcus Stewart (Ipswich) 17

Mark Viduka (Leeds) 14

Match odds: 5/4 A 7/4 D 11/5

Ref: P Jones (Loughborough)

Leicester (8) v Chelsea (6):

Leicester are without suspended midfielder Matthew Jones and keeper Tim Flowers and central defender Gerry Taggart also seem certain to miss out with thigh injuries.

Junior Lewis is likely to retain his place in midfield while utility player Damien Delaney is available again after a ban.

Marcel Desailly (calf) faces a fitness test while fellow centre-back John Terry will also be hoping to win back his place after missing the win against Newcastle with a heavy cold.

Graeme Le Saux (hip) is a major doubt, but Jody Morris (ankle) and Winston Bogarde (knee) are out. Pierre Issa and Mark Bosnich are still short of match-fitness.

Last season: Chelsea 1 Leicester 1, Leicester 2 Chelsea 2

Last five league matches: Leicester L L L D L, Chelsea D W D W W

Top scorers: Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 7

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 16

Match odds: H 6/4 A 6/4 D 21/10

Ref: S Dunn (Bristol)

Liverpool (4) v West Ham (13):

Liverpool have a doubt over top scorer Emile Heskey after he suffered a recurrence of his thigh injury in the 1-1 draw at Manchester City.

Michael Owen is still out with a hamstring injury but Robbie Fowler should return after being rested to the bench at Maine Road. Gary McAllister is doubtful with a groin injury.

Danny Murphy and Jamie Carragher are out with calf strains and an ankle injury is likely to keep Nick Barmby out once more.

Harry Redknapp has striking worries after Frederic Kanoute aggravated his groin injury against Spurs on Wednesday night. Trevor Sinclair will be rested in a bid to avoid the need for surgery on his troublesome knee.

Captain Steve Lomas will also miss the visit to Anfield with torn knee ligaments and Ian Pearce is doubtful because of flu.

Last season: West Ham 1 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 1 West Ham 0

Last five league matches: Liverpool L W W D D, West Ham W L L D D

Top scorers: Emile Heskey (Liverpool) 17

Paolo Di Canio, Frederic Kanoute (West Ham) 10

Match odds: H 1/2 A 4/1 D 14/5

Ref: S Bennett (Orpington)

Man Utd (1) v Everton (15):

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Roy Keane and Gary Neville will be rested. The United manager hinted a week ago that the pair might be given a breather ahead of the resumption of the Champions League.

Midfielder Nicky Butt is serving a one-match ban.

Everton have injury worries over Welsh international Mark Pembridge (calf) and Stephen Hughes (Achilles). Alex Nyarko, Paul Gascoigne, Paul Gerrard and Francis Jeffers are all long term injury victims.

Boss Walter Smith is unlikely to make many changes from the midweek 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough, in which Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell formed a striking partnership for the first time.

Last season: Man Utd 5 Everton 1, Everton 1 Man Utd 1

Last five league matches: Man Utd D W W W W, Everton L L D W D

Top scorers: Teddy Sheringham (Man Utd) 18

Francis Jeffers (Everton) 7

Match odds: H 2/9 A 11/1 D 7/2

Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)

Middlesbrough (16) v Man City (18):

Middlesbrough head coach Terry Venables is checking the fitness of several players. Hamilton Ricard (broken nose), Brian Deane (flu), Christian Karembeu (leg), Curtis Fleming (groin) and Colin Cooper (leg) are all doubtful.

England Under-21 international striker Andy Campbell is back in the squad after a two-month absence following a hernia operation.

Transfer-listed striker Paulo Wanchope has again been left out of the City squad with manager Joe Royle claiming the Costa Rican has a knee problem.

Shaun Wright-Phillips comes into the squad to replace hamstring-victim Andy Morrison, while Royle must decide if Andrei Kanchelskis is fit enough to play from the start.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Middlesbrough D D W D D, Man City L D L D D

Top scorers: Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough) 10

Paulo Wanchope (Man City) 12

Match odds: H 4/6 A 10/3 D 12/5

Ref: A Wiley (Burntwood)

Tottenham (11) v Charlton (9):

Spurs manager George Graham must decide whether to recall goalkeeper Neil Sullivan or stick with Ian Walker.

Scotland number one Sullivan is available after a two-match suspension, but Walker has kept successive clean sheets during his absence. Graham made Sullivan his first choice goalkeeper at the start of the season and therefore may recall him, although he knows that will result in Walker asking to go out on loan to another club.

Alan Curbishley must decide which of his two back-up goalkeepers will start.

First-choice Dean Kiely injured a groin in saving a penalty in the 2-1 win over Derby in midweek and Tony Caig, who replaced him at half-time, is favourite over Charlton’s Wembley play-off hero of 1998 Sasa Ilic.

Last season: No Corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Tottenham L W D D D, Charlton W W D D W

Top scorers: Steve Ferguson (Tottenham) 9

Sean Bartlett, Jonatan Johansson (Charlton) 13

Match odds: H 4/6 A 10/3 D 12/5

Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)