Football: Team news

Arsenal v Norwich City

Arsenal's Wright is confident of playing despite a thigh strain. Smith stands by. Norwich include pounds 800,000 striker Robins, who became a Canary yesterday. He should play, Fleck having moved to Chelsea for pounds 2.1m and Beckford being injured (thigh). New manager Walker chooses between Gunn and Walton in goal.

Chelsea v Oldham Athletic

Fleck heads Chelsea's parade of pounds 3m summer talent, forging a new attack alongside Harford. Donaghy makes it a hat-trick of debuts, but Spencer (thigh) misses out. Blues have problems: Cascarino (knee), Le Saux, Myers and Sinclair (all ankle ligaments), Johnsen (broken bone in foot), Dickens (foot) and Burley (hamstring) are all on the treatment table. Wise and Monkou are both banned. Oldham keeper Hallworth has shrugged off a thigh strain while Redmond makes his debut.

Coventry v Middlesbrough

Coventry are without Gallacher (Achilles tendon) today and maybe permanently if Chelsea have their way. Boro's three signings, Wright, Whyte and Morris, could be in line for their debuts. Mohan is still suspended.

Crystal Palace v Blackburn

Thomas is expected to play his last game for Palace against his likely new club Rovers. Encouragingly, for Palace and England, Salako returns after 10-month lay-off with knee trouble. Shaw also back after leg injury. Coppell includes Massey, the forward from Sutton United. Shearer and Ripley should spearhead Rovers' return to the top flight.

Everton v Sheffield Wednesday

Waddle makes Wednesday debut while Hirst and Palmer have passed fitness tests. Everton field pounds 500,00 signing from Rangers, Rideout, but are without Keown and Cottee.

Ipswich Town v Aston Villa

Villa's Dalian Atkinson returns to Portman Road, where he started his career, hopeful his spate of injuries is over. His likely partner is Regis, since Yorke is on World Cup duty for Trinidad and Tobago. Houghton, the pounds 900,000 buy from Liverpool, makes his debut. Ipswich miss Whitton (knee) for all-ticket, all-seater game. Linighan (knee) and Dozzell (ankle) hope to start. Geraint Williams makes his debut.

Leeds United v Wimbledon

The champions have a weakened defence: Dorigo (knee), Newsome (calf), and Fairclough (ankle) face late checks. Sterland already sidelined. Rocastle, Leeds' record pounds 2m buy, may wait for League debut. Wimbledon's new signing, Berry, may be on bench but pounds 1m man Holdsworth should start.

Nottingham Forest v Liverpool

Defence is a sensitive area for Forest, with Walker and Wassall gone, so they are hopeful Pearce (groin) will be fully fit for tomorrow's televised match. Liverpool miss Jones (virus) and Molby (injured). The traditional Anfield injury crisis has eased slightly: McManaman, Thomas and Nicol are available. New boys could make their mark: Stewart in midfield and James in goal since Grobbelaar is playing for Zimbabwe.

Sheffield Utd v Manchester Utd

Midfielder Whitehouse (thigh) is out so Bassett hopes Gage and Barnes will be fit. Gayle (suspended) is replaced by on-loan McLeary. Manchester United's pounds 1m striker Dublin may be on bench as Hughes has regained his goalscoring touch. Parker (knee) is the major doubt. Robson injured so Webb or (Darren) Ferguson deputises.

Southampton v Tottenham

Dixon and Speedie revive old partnership as Saints. Doubts surround Hurlock (rib) and Maddison (ankle). Ruddock, captain with Mabbutt injured, returns to an all-ticket Dell after pounds 750,000 summer switch. Walker beats Thorstvedt to keeper's jersey. Anderton looks certain to partner Durie in attack.

Elsewhere . . .

Newcastle's Keegan fields a striker, Howey, in central defence at home to Southend in the First Division of the Football League. Keegan parades his three summer signings, Venison, Beresford, and Bracewell. . . Derby, favourites for promotion, have 15- strong squad for trip to Peterborough. Cox includes new boys Pembridge and Wassall. . . Butcher makes Sunderland debut at Swindon and is expected to sign a one-year contract. He faces Hoddle, a former England colleague.