Aston Villa v Newcastle United
Newcastle have moved to dismiss suggestions that new signing Davide Santon's knee injury could be related to problems he suffered earlier in his career. Alan Pardew, the manager, said that the former Inter Milan full-back, 20, was undergoing a scan after damaging his right knee in training. Santon has been ruled out of today's trip to Aston Villa, in which he might have made his debut, after initial tests. He will be re-assessed early next week.
6pm, Abu Dhabi Sports 3
Bolton Wanderers v Norwich City
The return of the midfielder Stuart Holden will be like signing a £10 million (Dh58m) player, according to Owen Coyle, the Bolton manager. Holden ruptured knee ligaments against Manchester United in March but is close to fitness. Today's match at home to Norwich may be too soon. Coyle said: "He was our most consistent and best player until he picked up the injury. It will be a tremendous boost when you have a player of that quality returning."
6pm, Abu Dhabi Sports 6
Everton v Wigan Athletic
Everton have one of the smallest squads, having registered just 18 players over the age of 21 in their 25-man list submitted to the league. But the manager David Moyes said his players should not rest on their laurels. He dropped the captain Phil Neville last week and said: "We have competition and I have said if I don't think someone is quite playing well enough then I will change it." Emmerson Boyce, the Wigan defender, is rated only 50-50 for the match.
6pm, Abu Dhabi Sports 4
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Queens Park Rangers
Steven Fletcher, the Wolves striker, is a doubt after picking up a groin injury against Tottenham, but the manager Mick McCarthy is confident he will be fit, as he is about Stephen Hunt and Kevin Foley. McCarthy and Neil Warnock, QPR's manager, were teammates at Barnsley in the 1970s, when McCarthy used to clean Warnock's boots, and are still friends. "He is somebody who gets the best out of his team whenever you play against him," McCarthy said.
6pm, Abu Dhabi Sports 5