Manchester City have injury problems ahead of the visit of Arsenal on Saturday with Argentine striker Carlos Tevez out with a knee injury and Brazilian playmaker Robinho rated doubtful.
Tevez injured his knee in his country's 3-1 loss to Brazil last Saturday and could be out for up to two weeks, whilst Robinho has suffered a recurrence of a leg injury.
Paraguayan international Roque Santa Cruz (knee) is still out but midfielder Vincent Kompany (toe) could return.
Arsenal will be without attacking midfielder Andrei Arshavin for the match because of a groin strain but captain Cesc Fabregas is expected to return from a hamstring problem.
Theo Walcott is still some time away from a return but has returned to training after a back injury.
Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand could return to action against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday following a thigh muscle injury.
"Rio has a chance for Saturday," manager Alex Ferguson told the club's website. "I'm not sure it is a big chance but he has a chance."
Irish international John O'Shea is likely to miss out though after returning from international duty with a calf injury.
Tottenham Hotspur centre back Sebastien Bassong is fit for Saturday's game after recovering from a knee injury picked up playing for Cameroon last week.
With central defenders Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson out, manager Harry Redknapp will be hoping club captain Ledley King recovers from a groin strain.
Niko Kranjcar could make his debut after his transfer from Portsmouth while fellow midfielder Jermaine Jenas and goalkeepr Heurelho Gomes are back in the squad after injury.
Midfielder Deco is a doubt for Chelsea's trip to Stoke City on Saturday after picking up an injury during Portugal's midweek win over Hungary.
Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira both played in a practice game this week but are not yet ready to make their seasonal debuts.
Stoke should have striker James Beattie available again after a knee injury and he could be joined in the squad by new signings Dean Whitehead and Danny Collins.
Liverpool defender Fabio Aurelio is available to make his first start of the season in Saturday's match against Burnley following knee surgery.
However Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani (ankle) is still three weeks away from training and defender Daniel Agger is still out with a back injury.
Burnley could give a debut to on-loan striker David Nugent who joined from Portsmouth in the transfer window. Former Manchester United defender Richard Eckersley is available following suspension.
